Vanimo Green District to export 15.24 metric tons of Premium Cocoa to China tomorrow

As the country will be celebrating its 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary, Cocoa Farmers in Vanimo Green District of West Sepik have a bigger reason to celebrate as their first shipment of premium cocoa from Vanimo Green District will be shipped to China tomorrow [on Friday 12th of September 2025] marking a milestone achievement in the district.

This shipment is made possible through Wilyete Cocoa Export, a local Cocoa licenced exporter based in Vanimo.

Wilyete Cocoa Exporter Owner and Managing Director Tony Benedict said 15.24 Metric Tons of Premium Cocoa [284 bags of Cocoa] will be shipped to China and will generate an income of more than K40,000.

He said this is Cocoa from Vanimo Green District alone.

"Vanimo Green has the potential to grow Cocoa, and I have seen this through the export that will be going to China. They have the potential, so I, as a local businessman, have to provide that opportunity to the Farmers to boost their morale in cocoa farming." Said Benedict.

Cocoa has been the major cash crop in the Greater Sepik Region, for West Sepik most of its Cocoa producing district like Aitape, Lumi and Nuku have been accessing markets in Wewak and Maprik due to limited markets in the province.

Mr. Benedict says Wilyete Cocoa Exporter is trying to change this so that all cocoa from West Sepik must be exported out from the province to generate internal revenue for the province.

" For the next 50 years I want to see West Sepik, Sandaun to export our own Cocoa out so that we bring foreign currency to the Province, we cannot continue to sell our Cocoa to East Sepik. We have to start somewhere to assist our Farmers in the Province."

The 284 bages that will be shipped out to China are mainly from the Green River area of Vanimo Green District, making it Vanimo Green Districts main Cocoa Growing area.

Wilyete Cocoa Exporter is now calling on the Provincial Government and District Government to assist farmers in the province in Cocoa farming, in terms of providing proper roads and others.

For Wilyete Cocoa Exporter downstream processing is the next step, Mr. Benedict says Vanimo can produce chocolate in the province and that is what he is looking forward to achieving in the next 50 years in Sandaun.