PNG UNRE News

STAFF and students were fortunate to listen to a very informative talk on Cocoa World Prices by International Marketing Specialist and author, Grant Vinning on Tuesday (July 31) this week. Mr Vinning, who has worked for the last 10 years in cocoa market development in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, particularly Bougainville, discussed how prices are determined and their likely future directions. Predicting an increase in world cocoa prices in the future, he said prices are influenced by the performance of the cocoa sector in two West African nations - Ivory Coast and Ghana. These two countries alone supply 60 percent of the world's cocoa. Mr Vinning said the price was likely to increase because of the challenges presently faced by the West African cocoa farmers such as aging trees, aging farmers, lack of new land, government involvement, the cocoa swollen-shoot virus that decreases cocoa yield and harmattan. Harmattan is a very dry, dusty

Tourism Course Coordinator Hannah Woolcott The University’s newest department, Department of Tourism & Business Studies, is expanding gradually. Joining Head of Department George Korowi, is Course Coordinator and lecturer, Hannah Woolcott, who brings with her a wealth of tourism experience. Mr Korowi and Ms Woolcott are now working to develop the curriculum of the department’s Sustainable International Tourism course. Mr Korowi graduated from the University with a Masters in Management. Over the last ten years, he has served the University as Bursar, accountant and lecturer. He has also lectured at other tertiary institutions. Ms Woolcott joins UNRE from Kabaira Beach Hideaway where she was employed as manager for the last four years. She holds a Masters of Professional Accounting and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Aquaculture from James Cook University in Australia. Ms Woolcott who is part Australia and East New Britain said she is happy to be c