Coffee Minister William Bando officially opened the new state-of-the-art Homestate Coffee Factory at Tanam in Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea on 25 September 2025. The investment marks a milestone for Morobe’s coffee sector, creating opportunities for farmers who previously had to transport their produce to Goroka for processing.
The opening of the Homestate Coffee Factory is a major step forward for the country's coffee industry, strengthening rural livelihoods and reaffirming coffee’s place as the “green gold” that sustains millions of households nationwide.
The occasion was witnessed by leaders from both the provincial and national governments, business representatives, coffee stakeholders, and industry partners.
Minister Bando congratulated Homestate Chairman Tony Wetwattana and his team for their commitment to the industry, adding that the facility would not only boost coffee production in Morobe but also benefit farmers from other maritime provinces.
“When we talk about taking back PNG, we must take our people with us. I have travelled to a couple of coffee plantations and factories, and I can say that our people are so engaged and resilient,” Bando said.
“As minister for this important sector that supports over 450,000 households that equates to about 2-3 million individuals, this is where the money should be spent. To the chairman of Homestate Mr Paiboon, our host, distinguished guests, industry partners and most importantly the coffee growers of Morobe, thank you for your commitment to our nation,” Bando said.
The minister added that his role goes beyond official duty, highlighting coffee’s deeper meaning for rural communities. “I stand before you today not just as your coffee minister, but a son of this land who understands that coffee is not just a crop. It's a heartbeat of the rural economy, hope of our families and the green gold that will one day underpin the course of our country,” he said.
Bando stressed that the new facility symbolised more than just a corporate achievement.
“Its a profound political statement. It's a declaration by this Government that we are decisively moving away from a colonial era model of raw commodity extraction. We are now marching towards a new era of in-country value addition, job creation, and national wealth retention,” he added.
He also announced that his ministry is working with government and partners to strengthen the sector through building coffee access roads, tackling the coffee berry borer pest, introducing the soon-to-be-launched Green Gold Card to support farmers with pricing, and driving research and development into climate-resilient seedlings and modern farming techniques.
Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) Acting CEO and Chief Operations Officer Steven Tumae also commended Homestate, noting their long-standing relationship with CIC.
“They initially approached CIC and asked for a permit to build in 2016 and we denied their application because of some irregularities in relation to policy guidelines. From that initial contact a decade ago, we fast-forward to January 2025 when Homestate was licensed as a Dry Coffee Processing Mill. Today, we open its doors to the growers of Morobe and wider PNG,” Tumae said.
He added that Homestate is already a major player in industries such as rice, instant noodles, salt, sugar, and foam boxes.
“Their strategic diversification into coffee signals immense confidence in the coffee industry. It also adds significant capacity to Morobe Province, a province with a rich coffee heritage,” he said.
“I also take this time to acknowledge the contributions of past and present factory owners and exporters in Morobe who have served farmers well and continue to this day. You have laid the groundwork. Today we build upon it,” he added.
