The Papua New Guinean prime minister, James Marape,  has announced his cabinet, which contains not only some new faces, but some new positions as well, including a minister for coffee, in what is believed to be a world first. “Minister Kuli’s focus will be coffee, coffee, and coffee,” said PM James Marape, announcing the appointment of Joe Kuli.

Coffee is the country’s second-largest agricultural commodity after palm oil, accounting for 27% of all agriculture exports and 6% of the country’s GDP, said the Guardian.

For the first time, Marape also named a minister for palm oil, Francis Maneke.

“Oil palm is the largest agriculture commodity in PNG, contributing about 40% – K1.2 billion annually – of PNG’s export revenue in the agriculture sector,” said Marape.

“We have so much land that is lying around idle and minister Maneke will be tasked to use this to increase production, as well as help the existing industry to grow,” he said.

"The appointments specifically spotlight agriculture in a very significant way, to see agriculture growth in the country," he said when announcing the new 33-member cabinet on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.