Puro New Zealand was honoured to host a high-level delegation from Vanuatu, including the Prime Minister, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the Director of Foreign Affairs, the High Commissioner, and several other distinguished officials, at its state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation facility. This visit marks a significant milestone in fostering international collaboration and exploring the potential of the medicinal cannabis industry.
Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and Puro's Tom Forrest
Sharing insights
The delegation's visit comes at a pivotal time for Vanuatu, as the nation looks to diversify its economy and explore new revenue streams. With its medicinal cannabis industry in its nascent stages, Vanuatu is keen to learn from countries like New Zealand that have established regulatory frameworks and successful industry practices.
During the visit, Puro New Zealand shared insights into the regulatory environment in New Zealand, including the processes for obtaining licenses and the stringent conditions that ensure the quality and safety of medicinal cannabis products.
Co-Founder & Cultivation Director Tom Forrest welcomed the delegation as the Puro team provided an overview of the economic opportunities within the industry, from cultivation and processing to product development and export markets.
"It was our pleasure to host the honourable Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and Mrs. Justine Salwai, alongside the Vanuatu delegation. We were proud to share lessons of the Puro journey, showcase our flowers and medicinal products, and discuss the potential opportunities for the Asia-Pacific cannabis sector."
Exploring the potential
This information is crucial for Vanuatu as it seeks to understand the economic value that the medicinal cannabis sector could bring to its economy, alongside its existing exports of kava and copra (coconut).
Key discussions centered around the benefits of establishing a local cannabis industry in Vanuatu, including the potential for agricultural development, the creation of ancillary industries, and the medicinal efficacy of cannabis. The delegation also explored leading cannabis products from Helius Therapeutics and Heyday medical, and discussed novel modern delivery methods, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the options available in the global market.
Notably, the visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the roles that ni-Van RSE (Recognized Seasonal Employer) workers have played at Puro farms in past seasons. Their contributions have been invaluable, and the experience gained could be instrumental in helping Vanuatu develop its own cannabis industry.
Puro New Zealand is committed to supporting the local Asia-Pacific cannabis sector and welcomes Vanuatu as it navigates the challenges and opportunities of building a medicinal cannabis industry. "We look forward to exploring avenues for collaboration and providing ongoing support to help Vanuatu realize the full potential of this emerging sector."
For more information:
Puro
www.puro.co.nz