Paul Wai Kaupa and his wife are coffee farmers from Gumine District in the Chimbu Province. They are one of three groups of small medium enterprises (SME) that flew into Port Moresby, with assistance of the Chimbu Provincial Government, Division of Live Stock & Fisheries (DALF), to attend the World Indigenous Business Forum (WIBF) at the APEC Haus in Port Moresby from the 24th to the 26th of October, 2023. Mr. Paul spoke to PNG HAUSBUNG from his colorful display booth that was set up in the corridors of the APEC Haus as to what he hopes to gain out of attending the WIBF. “Right now, we are producing about 3000 tons of coffee. We are able to produce a lot more but we need a good market.” Paul said this is where government intervention is needed; to assist with finding a market for rural coffee farmers like himself and others in his community. “Coffee is a highly saleable crop, either as a green bean, dried or in ground form. And we are producing all of these different forms but we need that market.” The Chimbu Coffee Farmer added that the return from growing coffee is low and this has discouraged farmers from continuing to grow coffee and bringing onboard new farmers as well. Seeing this situation, Paul and his wife have now taken it upon themselves, to educate and train people in their community. “We keep telling our people that we need to grow better quality coffee and in a bigger quality and provide a consistent supply of coffee to the market, to get higher and better returns.” He said all of these efforts to grow coffee, including educating and training the people in their community about coffee, but it will all be in vain, if there is no market for their produce. Paul hopes his attendance at the 2023 WIBF, will be the opportunity he’s been looking for, to connect with other likeminded individuals for the international indigenous community that are in the business of coffee growers and to tap into international markets.