The Ministry of International Trade & Investment today made a major announcement in the Governments stride to achieve economic independence. Minister for International Trade & Investment, Richard Maru proudly announced the Ministry’s plan to implement the construction of two new farms that will open up the opportunity for almost 600 new jobs next year. “Today I am happy to announce to the country that next year, the Marape-Rosso Government will invest in 2 more Dairy Farms in the country. One in Lae and one in the Sepik Plains,” Maru said. According to the Minister the Lae Farm will cater for the Highlands Region and all their Dairy requirements including that of the Niugini Islands. The other in Sepik so that it can supply West & East Sepik and target West Papua. Minister Maru further mentioned that this is not a new industry, basing his analysis on the success of the Ilimo Dairy Farm over the last 4 years. He stated strongly that the Marape-Rosso Government is very serious in replacing all food imports and towards the downstream processing of all raw materials such as green bean coffee, cocoa beans, coconut oil and so forth into final products. “This is not only for us to get more value for our raw materials, but also we can create jobs and increase revenue streams,” Maru stated. He added that the country currently still imports between K800-900 million of rice every year, reiterating that this is what we have been doing pre-independence, post-independence and are still importing rice. “Rice can be grown in the country. Our coffee is still being sold as green bean coffee when we should be processing in PNG, in the process will result in increasing prices and our farmers will work the land and we can get more production,” the Minister added.