PRESS RELEASE
The Coffee Component of PNG Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification (PACD) Project Industry Coordination Committee (PACD-ICC) has announced the appointment of Mr. Ian Mopafi as the newly appointed chairman effective March 30, 2023. The committee consists of CIC, Provincial DAL Managers of beneficiary provinces (Morobe, EHP, Simbu, Jiwaka, Enga and SHP), NARI, UOG, Momase & Highlands DAL Regional Directors, Australia PNG Economic Partnership (APEP) and coffee growers & traders which are represented by Chairman Mopafi.
He was appointed at the first CIC-PACD-ICC meeting last Thursday in Goroka.
Mr. Mopafi was elected unopposed after being the chairman of the then World Bank & IFAD funded PPAP project in the last 11 years of the project.
He thanked the committee for having the trust and confidence in him to be nominated as the Chairman again under the new PACD project and welcomed new committee members on board.
“This committee is very important as it will be making some of the tough decisions. We must not be afraid, we have to read the situation and make a decision for what we think is right for the people and the country,” he said.
Chairman Mopafi, said when the former PPAP project started, there were many sceptics saying it was another National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) gimmick. He said looking back, they have been some strong behind the scene work that has enabled the project to be successful from its beginning in 2012 through to its completion in 2020.
Amongst the portfolios of the World Bank funded projects in PNG, PPAP is one of the top projects in the country. As a result of the successful implementation of this project, PNG Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification (PACD) Project has now come into effect at a funding support of K53.5m for the coffee component inclusive of GoPNG counter funding of K3m and will continue into 2025.
Mr. Ian Mopafi
CIC-PACD ICC Chairman Ian Mopafi speaking at the first ICC meeting in Goroka last Thursday.
APPROVED FOR RELEASE:
Potaisa Hombunaka
Project Manager
CIC-PACD