A K1.2 million funding was approved recently by the World Bank and this money will benefit the Cocoa farmers of the Tabar Group of Islands Cocoa Cooperative Society Limited. The Tabar Group of Islands Cocoa Rehabilitation and Development partnership project proposal was developed by Simberi Gold Company Limited (SGCL) recently and this funding was done through the Papua New Guinea Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification Project (PACD), to facilitate the development of a competitive and diversified cocoa value chains. The signing of the partnership agreement occurred recently at Kavieng between PACD, SGCL and the Tabar Group of Islands Cocoa Cooperative Society Limited. SGCL Community Relations Manager, Mr Andrew Taram stated that the creation of a cocoa industry as a sustainability project, that St. Babara Simberi Operations is supporting, is not a foreign concept, it is a practise that fits the current business model of creating post closure sustainable businesses that is through the cooperative approach. With the current business model of creating post closure sustainable businesses by St Babara Simberi, the creation of the cocoa industry as a sustainability project is not a foreign concept, this was revealed by SCL Community Relations Manager Mr Andrew Taram. Mr Taram further highlighted that SGCL as the lead partner in this project has work collaboratively with the Tabra Island Cocoa farmers and helped in finalizing their registrations last year, thus this has now paved the way for the much needed PACD Funding that supplements SGCL’s funding to enable and accelerate a truly functional cooperative entity to be managed and owned by the Tabar farmers themselves, with the ongoing support from the company and stakeholders. “We have a vision that aligns with and supports the cooperative model but one that will vigorously promote good governance, transparency, accountability, and sustainability for all partners to this cocoa project.” “Our focus on planning for eventual mine closure is on ensuring that sustainability is not only lip-service but practically executed in such Page 2 of 3 sustainable livelihood projects to do what we say and deliver to the promise.” The New Ireland Provincial Administration Economic Sector Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Edward Lasisi stated the mine should capture sustainable development projects in the province because one day the mining resource development projects in the province will end. Mr Lasist believes that the PACD cocoa partnership project will be successful for the people of Tabar in the long run. PACD Cocoa Project Manager Mr. Roland Kerina stated that, this was an unprecedented event, for a resource developer like Simberi Gold Mine Limited to be granted external funding from PACD, through a stringent selection process. “The company met all the necessary funding requirements out of more than seventy proposals.” “The scope of the project proposal met the funding objectives, and it was for the struggling cocoa farmers and to encourage more participation to meet global market demands.” Also speaking on behalf of the cocoa farmers was Tabar Group of Islands Cooperative Society Chairman, Tony Meka further who highlighted that this is a model project for the entire province, to learn from and adopt in other Local Level Government constituencies. The Tabar Group of Islands Cocoa Rehabilitation and Development partnership project is aimed at integrating small holder producers in Simberi, Tatau, Mapua and Big Tabar Island, in new business models, technical capacity building, aggregated field production and post-harvest management and improving competitive markets for the cocoa produce in Tabar. Mr Meka reminded the stakeholders that TGI Cooperative Society will not work in isolation and needs the support of all stakeholders, for it to meet expectations and build donor confidence.