Hausples Ltd notched another successful annual real estate expo after a two year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic last week in Port Moresby. The revival of the event saw about forty plus exhibitors and participants from the real estate industry as well as government stakeholders and major commercial banks set up their booths at the Sir John Guise indoor complex in Port Moresby with a good number of attendees during the start of the exclusive two-day event last weekend.

The expo was an opportunity for potential home buyers and the public to engage with key businesses in the real estate industry so that they may have important information and background to make informed decisions when buying or renting a home.

General Manager of Hausples Ltd, Tom Snelling said, it is important for the general public especially those who are interested in buying or renting a home for the first time to participate in such events to help raise awareness and educate them on how to acquire affordable housing in the real estate market.

"The expo is all about bringing people from the real estate industry together with the general public so that they can interact with each other, exhibitors include property developers, banks, insurers, superannuation funds and government entities such as the Department of Lands and Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) so that people can ask questions and have information about acquiring land as well as buying and renting a home" Snelling said.

"We have business houses showcasing their products and services as well as providing information to the general public. The Hausples expo in Port Moresby has become quite popular and we are hoping that hosting this event annually can help people understand what is required in the real estate market and the affordable and vast opportunities that are available to them, he said.

Major exhibitors and participants of the expo included, Bank of South Pacific, Nambawan Super, Westpac PNG, Capital Insurance Group, Kina Bank, Glory group of companies, Telikom PNG and supporting partners which included booths from SME's that were set up outside the complex in making the event a highlight.

Photo: James Donald Vice Minister for Mining and Border Development and MP for North Fly

North Fly MP and Vice Minister for Mining and Border Development James Donald stated that heavy investments in agriculture is the way forward for the district if it has to sustain itself after the OK Tedi mine’s closure. This was his response following the recent assertion and announcement of Ok Tedi Mining Ltd to increase the mine’s existence past 2032.

“We have to use both the direct and indirect advantages from Ok Tedi, such as investments proceeds from Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC), Mineral Resources Ok Tedi No 2 Ltd (MROT2), PNG Sustainable Development Program (SDP) and others, to attend to our development desires, and agriculture needs to be our primary recognition,” stated donald.

According to OTML Chief Executive and Managing Director Musje Werror, the quantity of useful resource and minerals in the ground should last beyond the 2040s, or even 2050s and consequently the business enterprise has changed into looking at extending the mine’s existence.

In mild of this, Donald, is of the view that his people have to now move away from the habit of dependency and easy handout mentality and start thinking afresh about setting out into the agricultural sector to turn out to be effective economically and socially.

“The 10 years before Ok Tedi Mine’s closure by 2032 isn't a comic story for North Fly and Western Province as a whole. The question is how organized or ready are we, to stand on our own whilst the sole financial powerhouse in our District or Western Province ceases operation in 10 years’ time? "My dream is for North Fly District to move towards agriculture. We will invest closely on mechanized farming by way of bringing in appropriate investment to farm cattle, goats, chicken, and grow diversely in order to develop our economy so that we must be able to produce massive quantities" he said.

Donald added that “We should now be smart in our questioning and aggressively push beyond the limits of our aspirations otherwise it would be a tragedy. To do this, agriculture is the way forward for us. There is one impediment that holds us again is land issues in which an awful lot of the land are standard and so we have been unable to do huge scale farms, and so forth.

“I actually have tasked the District Administration (North Fly) to start consultations with landowners. We can cross into agreements not to buy their land but have an expert to engage landowners to be part of the arrangement so we can assist them acquire their titles. We need large landmass of greater than 500 – 1 million hectares to realize our capability in agriculture,” stated North Fly MP and Vice Minister for Mining and Border Development.

“At the same time, we must open up and entice investments in different key areas in our District and Province. Investments in building our human resources, enhancing and rebuilding our public institutions, creating Special Economic Zones, Free Trade Zones, constructing key permitting infrastructures together with roads and highways connecting the whole province.

“Also, all Western Province leaders must unite and push hard for separate standalone Western LNG starting with the P’nyang Gas undertaking aggregating all the stranded fields by building a processing and load out facility in Daru. The benefit should be shared similarly across the complete province as we have done with the Ok Tedi Mining. This is the second one largest economy to hold Western province if we are not cautious.” This ought to be our priorities now and we ought to work extraordinarily smarter to recognise these aspirations he said.

Photo: James Marape

Prime Minister James Marape has directed the Chairman and Managing Directors of all State-Owned Enterprises to run their sectors as private businesses. PM Marape made this directive when speaking at the K80m dividend cheque presentation by Kumul Consolidated Holdings to the State last Thursday.

He said this will signify greater profit and performance outcomes. Marape made this remark when officiating at Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) Limited’s first ever dividend of K80 million cheque presentation to the State on Thursday. While acknowledging the KCH and its subsidiary companies for returning the historic K80 million dividends in a very hard year, the Prime Minister indicated that there are more rooms for profit and performance improvement.

PM said starting next year, his government will fully empower KCH to ensure not just K80 million is returned but greater returns in the future.

“Because really you have no excuses. You run the biggest monopoly in this place. Time for you to run in public service mindset is over,” PM said.

“Move it or you will be left behind. You have started a good work and I repeat, move it or you will be left behand. “Do not think public service but think and run like a private sector. We are working to ensure that those of you are employed in those sectors.

“You get ranked and renumerated better but the earnings are passed on to the country whether in dividend or a better service to our people. “Let us get to work. Do not expect miracles to happen overnight. No angel will come down to do our jobs.”

He said good signs have emerged in Telikom, Water PNG, Air Niugini, and I’m also seeing good signs in PNG Power but much work needs to be done there.

Remington Group has formally announced from its office last week (11 of November, 2022) that it is now calling on its interested applicant's to be part of the 2023 Apprenticeship Program . Students applying will be final year students in the field of electronics, IT, electrotechnology and similar fields. 

The Apprenticeship Program is a four year program aimed at providing TVET graduates a career pathway and technical discipline.  The program is facilitated in conjunction with the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations (DLIR) through the National Apprenticeship Trade and Testing Board (NATTB).

The apprenticeship program has so far assisted students in retaining certificates in their specialized trade since its inception in 2019 a total of 20 students have now passed through to its various development programs. 

Remington Group CEO, Mr. Peter Goodwin said, "our Apprenticeship Program is a market leading program that we are particularly proud of as its sets us apart from our industry competitors. We closely support our Apprentices by creating a career pathway by closely pairing them with our experienced technicians and at the same time allowing them to earn a salary in a normal working environment". 

" We believe in developing competent youths for today, equipping them for tomorrow's work challenges because we operate in a technological driven industry . In doing so we are contributing towards PNG's human resources through our engaged training programs", added Mr. Goodwin. 

Students who would like to apply for the Apprenticeship Program and get more updates can visit Remington Groups Facebook page, Instagram or LinkedIn for further enquiries.

Photo: Manus Acting Provincial Administrator Mr. Oka Nungu and IPA Managing Director Mr. Clarence Hoot proudly showing the signed MOUs after the signing.

The Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Manus Provincial Administration (MPA).

The MOU paves way for the Manus Provincial Administration to deliver IPA services through the Help Desk which was also launched as part of the week-long IPA outreach program in Manus Province.

The MOU was signed by the IPA Managing Director Mr. Clarence Hoot and Manus Acting Provincial Administrator Mr. Oka Nungu.

To kick-start the implementation of  the MOU, IPA officers trained Commerce Officers within the Manus Provincial Administration on how to use the IPA’s online registry services to lodge business applications. The IPA also donated a computer set including a printer and wifi modem to assist the Commerce Officers’ use in providing these services.   

In his statement during the MOU signing, Mr. Hoot said he was happy to see that the MOU was finally signed after a while. He reinforced the IPA’s commitment in making available its services right down to the district level with the use of information technology. “The IPA over the years has been committed in ensuring that its services trickle down to ordinary citizens,” Mr. Hoot said. “That is why we have been investing resources in strengthening partnerships and enhancing collaboration with Provincial Administrations as well as other stakeholders,” he added.

Mr Hoot further added that in acknowledging the internet connectivity issues currently being experienced in some parts of the country, that should not stop us from continuing to strive for service delivery using technology as connectivity issues will be addressed in no time into the future.

 In response Mr. Nungu expressed satisfaction and gave assurance of his Administration’s support towards the IPA’s cause saying that the gesture by IPA to purchase the equipment demonstrated that the IPA was serious about how businesses are conducted in Manus. “What IPA did was a symbol of commitment towards making it cheaper for Manusians to do business,” Mr. Nungu said.  

The signing of the MOU with Manus Provincial Administration now brings the number of MOUs and IPA help desks established with Provincial Administrations to eight provinces.  

Others include East New Britain, West New Britain, New Ireland, East Sepik, Milne Bay, Oro, Morobe and Madang.

This is aside from the IPA regional offices which are located in Buka, Kokopo, Lae and Mt. Hagen.

IPA also has existing MOUs with its colleague regulatory agencies such as the Internal Revenue Commission, Immigration and Citizenship Services Authority, Customs PNG, Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit (Bank of Papua New Guinea), PNG Fraud Directorate and National Cultural Commission.

Mr. Hoot is calling on other Provincial Administrations and Government Agencies to partner with the IPA so that all government services can be streamlined and delivered to the people in rural communities and provinces so they can equally participate in building the economy of the country.

Photo: Clarence Hoot

The Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) delivered a stakeholder awareness and training workshop for the New Guinea Islands Region in Kokopo from 27th – 28th October 2022. The awareness was geared towards training and building the capacity of New Guinea Islands Provincial Commerce Officers and Business Development Officers from the districts by providing awareness on the IPA functions and the key legislative and systems changes and processes. The awareness focused on different Acts administered by the IPA, functional duties of the key Divisions and Units within the Investment Promotion Authority, and current regulatory and legislative reforms that IPA is undertaking. Furthermore, it focussed mostly on the rollout of the Online Registry Service. The overall program was based on the theme: Connecting everyone and making our system work’

Provincial commerce officers and BDOs from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, West New Britain, East New Britain, New Ireland and Manus provinces participated in the two-days training sessions.

The training was officiated by the Managing Director of the Investment Promotion Authority, Mr. Clarence Hoot. Mr. Hoot outlined the main aim of the training program and challenged the participants to learn as much as they could and be able to deliver the services in their respective provinces for our simple people. Senior Managers and officers from IPA conducted the two days training program. The participants expressed their sincere appreciation and gratitude to IPA for facilitating such a useful training which now empowers them to better serve the people in rural areas. After the training, the commerce officers were awarded with certificates of participation.

There was also notable interest from the general public in East New Britain Province who attended the awareness program. Many expressed their interest indicating IPA should continue to roll out such awareness and training programs annually and empower Papua New Guineans to venture into SME businesses. Some of the general comments received from the participants include awareness on how to assist SMEs to bring their products to the market and opportunities for joint venture (JV) partnerships with foreign investors.

Complementing IPA’s awareness program, there were also sessions delivered by other private and government agencies, especially the National Development Bank (NDB) and the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC). The NDB made its presentation on its small business loan (SME) products whilst IRC presented on Small Business Tax Regime.

The IPA team accompanied by some provincial commerce officers also made awareness presentations to the students of the University of Natural Resources and Environment which was well received. The students and lecturers registered their interest for future such events to be delivered as well.

Mr. Hoot has made a call that provincial commerce offices and business development officers within the Region should work more closely with IPA Regional Offices around the country to assist with their roles in ensuring service delivery right down to the people that matter - our rural population. Officers from the Provincial Commerce Divisions should move away from their traditional way of operations and become more supportive to businesses and general clients by providing support services. The IPA online registry platform by now is almost accessible to all which allows people to formalize and operate their businesses. 

Photo caption: L-R: Emanuel Bria, Country Officer – Asia, Mark Robinson EITI Executive Director and Lucas Alkan Head of PNGEITI National Secretariat during a press conference held on the last day of the mission, Friday November 11, 2022.  ​​​​​​​

An EITI International mission led by its Executive Director Mark Robinson to Papua New Guinea concluded today on a good note.

The EITI International team comprised of the EITI Executive Director, the Director for Asia and the Pacific and the Country Lead for Papua New Guinea arrived this week for a 3 days consultation with the Stakeholders that included the PNGEITI Multi-Stakeholder Group including the development partners.

The mission’s main objective was to  meet and discuss the outcome and findings of Papua New Guinea’s second EITI Validation (country assessment report) with various players in the extractive consisting representatives from extractive companies, government departments, extractive SOEs and civil society bodies which provided leadership and guidance in guiding the implementation of the EITI Global Best Practice Standard in PNG’s mining and petroleum sector.

Head of the PNGEITI National Secretariat Mr. Lucas Alkan said “The visit by the international team to Papua New Guinea just under a month after they have issued their verdict on Papua New Guinea’s progress in implementing the EITI Standard  last month recognizes the important role  the EITI  plays in promoting transparency and addressing governance issues in the extractive industry ” PNGEITI head of National Secretariat Mr. Lucas Alkan said.

“The world is in a transitional phase, moving away from carbon dependent fuels to address climate change. In this transition, minerals will play an important role in putting companies and government alike under pressure to mine more as the demand for minerals increase to build carbon neutral machines like electric vehicles.

This means Papua New Guinea will be under pressure to undertake mining and petroleum development activities where there is potential for illegal practices and corruption to creep in given such circumstance.  EITI will play in important role in this transition period to hold authorities and companies accountable for their conduct in managing the sector and to abide by the rules and regulations governing the extractive sector in our jurisdiction.

From left to right EITI International Executive Director Mark Robinson, EITI International Director for Asia and the Pacific and the Country Lead for Papua New Guinea Mr. Emmanuel Bria and PNG EITI Head of National Secretariat Mr. Lucas Alkan at the press conference. 

EITI International team comprised of the EITI Executive Director Mark Robinson, EITI Director for Asia and the Pacific Mr. Emmanuel Bria and the Country Lead for Papua New Guinea has successfully completed its findings of Papua New Guinea's second EITI Validation ( Country Assessment Report) with its formal announcement on Friday 11th of November ,2022  at Treasury office Port Moresby. 

The Validation result comes after a month of consulting with various players consisting of the representatives from the extractive companies, government departments,  extractive state-owned entities and civil society bodies to provide leadership and guidance in guiding the implementation of the EITI Best Practice Standard in PNG's mining and Petroleum sector. 

PNGEITI Head of National Secretariat Mr. Lucas Alkan welcomed the EITI Board's candid assessment and decision on PNG's efforts to implement the EITI, describing it as fair assessment,  taking into account the efforts put in by multi stakeholder Groups over the years since 2013 when the government signed up to implement the EITI. 

"We consider the second country assessment as consolidating the correct actions that have been taken and the work current in progress. PNG has made significant progress in implementing the EITI relative to other economies around the world that are implementing the same EITI standards".

Giving his assessment so far regarding EITI's role in Papua New Guinea the Executive Director of EITI International, Mr. Mark Robinson stated that PNG needs more transparency in revenue collection for public information, the room for contract transparency and lastly for the beneficiaries in the extractive sector to benefit well in their resources. Other key success area noted is the well structured electronic data currently available by the Mineral Resource Authority that provides good management of the mineral resources. 

"EITI has to be meaningful to the local people and how it will benefit them socially and economically in a proper way".

EITI Director for Asia Pacific Mr. Emmanuel Bria explained further that EITI is an independent National Secretariate that works in line to make sure the government's local content is met along with the extractive sector (oil, gas and mineral) in a more transparent way to benefit its citizens according to the set international standards and its jurisdiction. 

PNG operationalized EITI implementation in 2015 and published its first report in 2016. Since then, it has so far published seven country reports covering successive financial years. The 2021 and 2020 reports are now being worked on and are expected to be published by December this year.

Photo credit: Sarimu Kanu Linkedin Page

Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited has named Sarimu Kanu as its new managing director (KMHL).

Nellie James, the KMHL's president, made the declaration.

“Under the KMHL constitution, the power to appoint a managing director lies with the board,” James explained.

According to James, Vanguard International's independent recruiting procedure resulted in Kanu's hiring, and the board's choice was based on the panel's recommendations.

“He is a highly experienced senior national mining engineer with professional knowledge in mineral engineering, having held very senior management roles in the mining industry,” James said.

“I congratulate Mr Kanu on his appointment and welcome him on board.”

James also acknowledged Hengene Ivan for acting as MD over the past three months.

Kanu graduated from the University of Technology in 1992 and has knowledge of the mining industry spanning 29 years.

“Mr Kanu brings to the company a wealth of experience from the mining industry. His current role is country manager, PanAust, the developer of the Frieda River gold-copper molybdenum project in West Sepik.

Additionally, he has served in a variety of high managerial positions for mining firms, most notably as vice president of the Ramu-Nickel mine in the Madang, according to James.

“Mr Kanu as the managing director and chief adviser to Kumul Minerals is a game-changer for the company in the highly competitive and challenging mining industry, as he brings high experience and energy to the company,” James said.

She continued by saying that the appointment would help the company carry out its responsibilities as the nation's mining company as it worked to increase PNG's involvement in significant mining projects across the nation.

Reference: The National (11 November 2022). “New Kumul Minerals Holdings Ltd MD appointed”.

Photo credit: Mining Digital 

There were no pandemic-related delays in Newcrest Mining Limited's 2 million ounces of gold output in the fiscal year 2022, despite the fact that several maintenance and improvement projects were carried out.

Sandeep Biswas, managing director of Newcrest, stated at the company's annual general meeting (AGM) in Melbourne that this output was delivered at an All-In Sustaining Cost margin of US$732 per ounce (K2580) and that this was achieved while maintaining a disciplined approach to their financial management, which saw four straight quarters of declining group costs over the course of the previous financial year.

He claimed that by successfully completing their acquisition of the Brucejack mine in western Canada, they were able to achieve value-accretive growth as a key goal.

“Brucejack is one of the world’s highest-grade operating mines and complements our quality portfolio of large-scale, long-life and low-cost assets. It also means Newcrest now has exposure to six tier 1 ore bodies globally,” Mr Biswas said.

He asserted that building a good gold firm requires having a genuine, relevant exposure to copper.

“At the end of the 2022 financial year, on a 100 per cent basis, our Group Ore Reserves contain approximately 11 million tonnes of copper, with an estimated 25 million tonnes inclusive of our Group Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources,” Mr Biswas said.

“In addition to having a substantial exposure to copper today, it means our exposure is well placed to increase in the future through conversion of Mineral Resources to Ore Reserves. In the last financial year alone copper actually accounted for 25 per cent of Newcrest’s total net revenue, up from 22 per cent just one year earlier.

“Our intention is to build on this profile going forward through building of the Red Chris Block Cave, pursuing the approval of Wafi Golpu and with the potential development of Namosi further down the track.”

Reference: Post-Courier (10 November 2022). “Newcrest Delivers Two Million Ounces Of Gold In F22”. 

According to Governor Luther Wenge, the Morobe government will review the 2005 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Hidden Valley project with developer Harmony Gold Mining and stakeholders.

According to Wenge, the original agreement from 2005 called for a review once the Hidden Valley mine had been in operation for three years.

“Many things stipulated in the agreement then have not been implemented,” he said. 

“The last two governments failed to pursue this and to see that the developer complied with the agreement. 

“I will start dialogue with the landowners, the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) and Harmony so that the developer can comply where they have failed to,” Wenge said. 

The open-pit gold and silver mine in Morobe's Bulolo area was once a joint venture between South African miner Harmony Gold and Newcrest Mining subsidiary Newcrest Niugini.

In order to fully own the mine in the Wau region, Harmony acquired Newcrest Niugini's 50% interest in the joint venture in 2016.

The developer declared attaining commercial levels of production in June 2018.

As the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture (WGJV), Harmony and Newcrest also submitted an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Wafi-Golpu Project to the Conservation and Environment Protection Agency on June 25, 2018. (Cepa).

Governor Wenge declared that he was in favour of the Special Mining Lease being signed by Wafi-Golpu next month (SML

“Wafi-Golpu is a priority now but Harmony is very much aware that we will be revisiting the Hidden Valley agreement,” he said.

Reference: Bauai, Gloria. The National (7 November 2022). “Morobe to revisit agreement”.

OK Tedi Mining Limited plans to extend its operation beyond the mine life in 2032.

According to managing director Musje Werror, the Ok Tedi mine still contains roughly 200 million tonnes of resource that will remain in the earth after 2032 and can support mine operations long into the 2040s and even the 2050s.

“We have been in operations now for 38 years and our facilities are aging and we are now reinvesting into the business in terms of putting money into our processing facilities, fleeting our mine haul and equipment as well and that is in order to take us to the next 10 years,” Mr Werror said.

According to him, Ok Tedi won't close anytime soon since the project will continue for a very long time to come. The difficulty is in controlling the environmental effects and figuring out what to do with the waste rock and tailing.

“The next 10 years we have in the current life of the mine is to look at the current environment solution that can further extend the mine life well beyond 2032,” Mr Werror said.

“In terms of reinvesting into the project, partners such as P&O Maritime Logistics is doing the same thing with the fleets that it has and it is now reinvesting to provide the service and support for Ok Tedi life of mine well into the future.”

Reference: Kamus, Maxine. Post-Courier (8 November 2022). “Ok Tedi To Extend Operations Beyond 2032”.

Prime Minister James Marape made a call for Papua New Guinea’s livestock industry to be revived urgently for import replacement as well as to be an exporter. Marape, in a press statement said Papua New Guinea once had a thriving cattle industry that was started in the colonial days by experienced Australian cattle owners.

“Once upon a time, the Highlands Highway from Mt. Hagen to Lae was filled with cattle on the roadside,” he recalled.

“Starting at Corn Farm outside Mt. Hagen to six-mile outside Lae, you could find thousands of cattle. Sadly, since independence in 1975, PNG’s cattle numbers have dropped to an all-time low. Settlers moved in on State land used for cattle and abattoirs,” he said.

Marape said his government had directed the Livestock Development Corporation (LDC) to make a move in taking back all the state land occupied by settlers and use it to rebuild Papua New Guinea’s cattle industry.

The State Land Reclamation Project was launched by former Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, John Simon at Corn Farm at the border of Western Highlands and Jiwaka last December.

Marape said the newly appointed Minister for the new Ministry of Livestock, Hon. Seki Agisa would ensure that what Simon left off was continued and also to ensure that areas like his own province of Western, which had so much grassland, could be used to raise cattle with Indonesia and Australia just next door.

“He will be given the necessary budget support to unleash the full potential of the livestock industry in our country,” said Marape.

Photo credit: ANU

Despite major setbacks faced by many economies of Island Nations throughout the Pacific due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russian war from 2019 to 2021, a recent study and report released by the Australian National University (ANU) shows that PNG's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been progressing well compared to other Pacific Island Nations.

The University's research report reveals that PNG's non-resources GDP growth rate was progressing at level by 7 per cent per annum while other pacific island countries performed relatively low. And this is expected to increase by 13.2 per cent next year.

In comparison, the analysis made by the Australian National University shows that the Solomon Islands GDP growth rate was recorded at a negative 6 per cent, Samoa negative 11 per cent, Fiji at a negative 1 percent while Vanuatu at 0 per cent.

Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey was moved by the ANU report and expressed his gratitude to the Government for sustaining the economy under trying times.

"This is very good news for the Government in sustaining the economy during the global Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russian war". Even when we look at total GDP, including the resource sector PNG was only behind Tuvalu in which they have a population of about 1000th to that of PNG". Treasurer Ling-Stuckey said.

PNG has weathered and is expected to weather the global economic storms from Covid-19 and the Ukraine-Russian war much better than our neighbours, "the Treasurer said.

Ling-Stuckey stated that some of these had to do with different economic structures, but much is due to good, responsible and responsive economic management. While PNG has performed very well in terms of the Pacific, Treasurer Ling-Stuckey stressed that the performance is just above developing countries as a whole.

"These is why we need to continue on our path of budget repair, strengthening of institutions, and increasing our non-resource GDP growth, these are vital steps towards reaching economic independence". The country's Treasurer said.

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape recently stated that Papua New Guinea spends a massive K2 billion-plus on importing food every year, some of which can be easily grown and produced in the country. He said this when announcing that the two major focuses of his government were internal security and growing the economy.

“More control of the prevailing law-and-order situation will lead to increased business, especially in agriculture, to bring down the country’s huge food import bill,” PM Marape said.

He said it would also lead to more benefits from the mining and petroleum sectors.

“I’m very strong in my push for development of our sustainable natural resources like agriculture, forestry and fisheries. We want to ramp up production in these sectors and get more of our people, 80 per cent of whom are involved with land and sea, to migrate from subsistent into the cash economy". PM Marape said.

“My government already has in place price support and freight subsidy mechanisms for agriculture, and partnerships with major banks and lending agencies for support to our SMEs, to ensure that our citizens are active participants in the economy.

“Therein lies the greatest potential and my government is putting money where our mouth is.

“Agriculture will be our major export earner going forward and will also replace food imports. At the moment, we are spending more than K2 billion on food imports alone, which is not good enough for a country with massive land which can be used for agriculture.” he said.

PM Marape also looks forward to more benefits to the country from the extractive industries,

“We will be working to ensure that Porgera Mine reopens at the earliest. Papua and P’nyang LNG projects are both progressing well and should soon move into Final Investment Decision (FID), with construction to run from 2023 to 2032. We also will be working to ensure that Wafi-Golpu, Pasca, Pandora, Frieda River and various other projects progress.” The PM said.

Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change and Lufa Open MP Hon Simo Kilepa is determined to connect the Lufa District in Eastern Highlands Province with reliable electricity supply under the PNG Electrification Partnership (PEP) Activity Program fully funded by the United States of America Aid (US AID).

The first term MP plans to connect his district with reliable electricity supply as it will boost internal generating economic activities and better alleviate poverty in rural areas of concern in his district and Eastern Highlands Province as a whole.

Kilepa said that he held talks with senior executives of the USAID PEP Team concerning the planned off-grid electrification project.

The plan which is environmentally friendly positively reflects the Environment and Conservation ministerial portfolio he is leading in the Marape-Rosso Cabinet.

After his discussions Kilpea said that his district will prioritise Clean Renewable Energy alternatives which is specifically priotised under Solar Energy and Hydro Electricity, respectively.

Kilepa confirmed that this is a Public Private Partnership Program where USAID is providing technical support in partnership with district and provincial governments for the purpose of project fundings.

According to the US AID PEP Activity Program, only about 13% of Papua New Guinea’s total population has reliable access to electricity which is a major developmental obstacle.

The USAID PEP Activity is a developmental initiative to focus on the accessibility of electricity to rural areas which was made possible during the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby when the United States (US), Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, entered into the PNG Electricity Partnership (PEP), which aims to increase PNG’s electricity access to 70 percent by 2030.

Minister Kilepa is committed to ensure the people of Lufa District have reliable electricity supply using Clean Renewable Energy methods of generating electricity.

Photo: Coffee Minister, Hon Joe Kuli

Newly appointed coffee minister and Member for Anglimp-South Waghi, Hon. Joe Kuli is adamant in seeing that the government’s targets set for increasing coffee production and exports is progressed under his leadership. Minister Kuli said this during a recent meeting with the Coffee Industry Corporation Limited (CICL) management in Port Moresby. 

Kuli acknowledged the Marape-Rosso Government for the initiative in creating three new ministries under the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in which, coffee is one of them.

“I thank the government of the day to realise the potential of coffee industry and for giving this ministry that we now have a representative in the government for coffee matters", he said.

The coffee minister highlighted that coffee was very important to people in the rural areas. “I see that agriculture is something that our people continue to survive on for their daily needs. Cash flow and daily needs are met through the sweat and hard work our people put into working on the land.” Said Minister Kuli.

The minister said apart from other ongoing coffee programs, coffee road project is a priority that must be continued to have easier access for farmers to markets.

Minister Kuli said he would like to also see that more extension officers are placed in the districts and local level governments to restore the confidence and enthusiasm the farmers once had in the industry.  

He thanked the CICL management team for presenting important information on the status of the coffee industry and ongoing projects for his noting and how best the new ministry under his leadership could be able to support and progress work further.  

He further stated that “We must work hard to ensure coffee exports exceed the K1b benchmark. Another important factor is to put more extension officers in the field to move what we are currently doing. The Prime Minister has given me this portfolio with no structure but has put it under coffee and CICL you are already there. CICL is well established, and you are already carrying out the various programs. My team and I will join hands with you to see what better policies and programs we can enhance and work together to meet the targets as set out by the government.” 

CICL Chief Operations Officer, Steven Tumae on behalf of the Board and the management congratulated Kuli on his appointment and said that CICL stood ready to work closely with him and his team.

“We are grateful that you have been re-elected to represent the Anglimp-South Waghi people and to be given the role of heading the coffee ministry."

Tumae told the Minister of CICL’s existing programs and aspirations the industry had in achieving the government’s target of three million coffee bags by 2030. 

He said apart from relooking at the coffee replanting program, coffee rehabilitation, freight subsidy, road access and marketing, increasing the number of extension officers in the districts was one area that needed support to boost extension services for farmers.

“Going forward, more partnerships with the district and provincial governments is needed to reach out and assist farmers in the rural areas.

Minister for International Trade and Investment Hon. Richard Maru said Australia must refocus and align their priorities to Papua New Guinea’s preferences.

He was referring to the Papua New Guinea - Australia Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership, specifically the Pillar 3- Economic Partnership for Prosperity. Minister Maru said this in his meeting with the Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Hon. Pat Conroy last week.

During the meeting, Minister Maru said that Papua New Guinea (PNG) was now focusing on growing its economy through the non-resource sectors and that was where Australia could step in and assist.

“Over the last 47 years, PNG has been over reliant on the resource sector and look at where that had left us- highest level of unemployment since independence, highest level of national debt and highest level of crime. It is a serious policy flaw that this Government is determined to fix during our term; our focus is now on reducing crime and growing the economy,” said Minister Maru.

“We will focus on the agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and the services sector. We need to replace all imports like rice, dairy products, coffee, and all other products that we can produce ourselves. We need to downstream process all our raw materials and we need to build our manufacturing sector. We accept the fact that we have a lot of challenges like constant power blackouts and high cost of energy. These are areas that Australia can easily help us,” he said.

Minister Maru said that Australian investors could also assist PNG in the development of its Special Economic Zones.

“This (development of SEZs) is key to our plan to unlock the potential of our economy, so we want them (Australia) to support us in this area,” said Minister Maru.

“We also want Australia to support us develop new industries like cotton and feed. These are areas that Australia is very good at and has very mature industries and they can assist us".

"So, under this partnership (the Papua New Guinea- Australia Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership), when Australia is looking at aid flows to PNG, they should focus on these sectors which will give us greatest impacts in terms of employment and wealth creation; they must not focus on the areas that they define but on our key focus areas that we define,” said Minister Maru.

Meanwhile, Minister Maru also advised Minister Conroy that he had approved for PNG National Trade Office to work with the Australian Government to engage an independent consultant to undertake a Feasibility Study into a possible Trade Agreement between PNG and Australia.

Photo: Hon Justin Tkatchenko & Korean ambassador to PNG, KANG Ho-jeung

Foreign Affairs Minister, Justin Tkatchenko has announced the proposed plans for South Korean investments which will include the re-establishment of the Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) and establishment of the Ocean and Fisheries Corporation Centre (OFCC) in Port Moresby starting next year.

Minister Tkatchenko made the announcement after his recent trip to the Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers meeting in Busan Metropolitan, South Korea.

Tkatchenko stated that South Korea's aid agency has spent millions throughout the world and Pacific on various multiple projects and had closed their office in the country 10 years ago.

"My negotiations with the South Korean Foreign Minister and the President of the Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) have concluded that we will re-establish the KOICA office once more in Port Moresby". Tkatchenko said.

Having KOICA established in Port Moresby next year is a huge bonus for the benefit of aid, trade and economy.

Minister Tkatchenko also stressed on the proposed establishment of the Ocean and Fisheries Corporation Centre (OFCC) which is also said to be set up in Port Moresby in the coming year. He said the OFCC would coordinate relationships between South Korea and the Pacific Island Nations in key areas of buying, selling and trading fish and marine resources.

"South Koreans are big seafood eaters, they love fresh fish and seafood. It is part of their natural diet, and they want to do more when it comes to buying and trading our marine products" he said.

"They wanted to set up the Fisheries corporation centre in Fiji, but I insisted for them to have it established in PNG because 15 per cent of the world's Tuna comes from PNG. I negotiated for them to come to PNG so they have taken off their previous decision to go to Fiji and the centre will now be established in Port Moresby" Tkatchenko said.

"South Koreans are very humble, professional and hardworking people and they really want to make these investments are reality, this shows the confidence that Korea has in our Government and also in PNG".

We must look forward to working together with the South Korean's by early next year to re-establish the new KOICA office as well as the establishment of the OFCC". Minister Tkatchenko said.

The well established and enduring relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia was highly acknowledged by the Australian Minister of International Development and the Pacific, Hon. Pat Conroy during the introduction and launching of PNG Ports latest K2.2 million customized pilot boat project at Port Moresby's Fairfax harbour waterfront recently.

In a small but significant ceremony, the K2.2 million customized pilot boat named as MV Paga was launched by the Minister Councillor to the Australian High Commission, Diane Barclay. MV Paga is named after the hill which overlooks the Fairfax Harbour where PNG Ports Corporation operates from in Port Moresby.

MV Paga is part of the K11 million investment by PNG ports on the purchase of five first of its kind customized boats in which two similar boats were also delivered last year to boost its fleet, meet business demands and industry standards.

Minister Conroy said it was a real great pleasure to be present and the event represents a series of combined efforts between the two nations.

"It is really heartfelt, and we have so much in common between PNG and Australia. We are close neighbours and we are deep friends and that friendship only grows and our personal bonds, whether its in religion, sports, or education were it ties us together. And today is a special day for better economic cooperation so we can grow together, " Conroy said.

PNG Ports Acting Chief Executive Officer, Rodney Begley said "PNG Ports and Australia have a long history together with the foundations of our 15 ports built under the administration of Australia".

"Further strengthening our relationship, PNG Ports has also received funding support from the Australian Government to upgrade these ports. PNG Ports is thankful for this support by the people of Australia, and we hope to keep this partnership". He added.

Meanwhile, Minister for State Enterprise, William Duma praised the launching and delivery of MV Paga as another milestone achievement. Duma said the launch of MV Paga marks the delivery of the third pilot boat departing from the people of Australia to the people of PNG and the PNG Ports Corporation.

"Australia have been very generous in helping us when we needed them and today is another example of what the people and the Government of Australia have done by agreeing to fund our port facilities throughout the 21 maritime provinces and bring this very important pilot boats to help operations in the country". Duma said.

Minister Duma further took the opportunity on behalf of the Government of PNG to acknowledge and thank the Australian Government for their generous support and assistance to the people of PNG.

Photo credit: PM James Marape News Page

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says the Government is investing in key infrastructure development such as the K125.7 million Kavieng Airport Development.

He said this on Thursday, November 3, 2022, when opening the project which he launched in June 2020, built through the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Civil Aviation Development Investment Programme (CADIP) and Government counterpart funding, in front of a massive crowd in the New Ireland capital.

The project covered pavement strengthening and 500m runway extension to achieve a total length of 2200m; construction of the new terminal building; construction of the new airport market facility; construction of the powerhouse and installation of standby power supply; installation of an airfield lighting system; installation of water supply; and a new carpark.

PM Marape thanked ADB for its support of CADIP since 2009 which will continue through CADIP II.

He also announced:
• K10 million for expansion of Kavieng Town and urged local landowners to free up land for this purpose; and
• That a new port would be built in Kavieng through Australia-PNG partnership.

The Prime Minister and a large delegation from Port Moresby arrived in an Air Niugini Boeing 737 aircraft to demonstrate that Kavieng Airport can now handle international flights.

He was accompanied by Civil Aviation Minister and Namatanai MP Hon. Walter Schnaubelt, Treasurer and Kavieng MP Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey, Finance Minister Hon. Rainbo Paita, ADB Country Director David Hill, management of major airlines Air Niugini and PNG Air, department heads, provincial administration representatives, local leaders and the New Ireland people.

Meantime, across the Bismark Sea in Manus, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso opened the East-West Coast Highway Redevelopment.

“This indicates that the Government of today is willing to invest in key economic infrastructure to carry the economy of the country forward,” PM Marape said.

“This sort of infrastructure has a return on investment.

“This airport in Kavieng has a return of 16 per cent-plus.

“This is economic-enabling infrastructure to anchor New Ireland and this part of the country so that you are not just a contributor from Lihir (mine), but can now go the next mile in as far as the economy is concerned.”

PM Marape challenged the people of New Ireland to break away from the status quo and work with Government in developing the economy.

“The Government is investing and focusing on going back to agriculture, fisheries, tourism and sustainable forestry and wants to work with provincial government in this space,” he said.

PM Marape cited the case of the small Pacific island nation of Vanuatu which had a population of only 300,000 people but attracted 88,000 tourists in 2020.

“If 50,000 tourists come to Kavieng, and each of them spends K1000, that is K50 million for the New Ireland economy,” he said.

“This is more money than from the Lihir mine.

“In a place like New Ireland, where law-and-order is not a major issue, we are willing to invest more.

“I want to talk about opening up Kavieng Town; opening up tourism, agriculture, fisheries in New Ireland.

“I want to talk about power-generation for reliable power in this province.

“I want New Ireland, over the next 10 years, to become a strong economic contributor through not only agriculture, but especially tourism a

Photo: Keith Scott, the British High Commissioner to PNG

The British Government, as a significant partner, wants to help Papua New Guinea access its natural resources, especially agriculture, according to British High Commissioner Keith Scott.

Scott visited Goroka to see coffee production along with Dr. Ruth Wiseman, director of Oceania, South-East Asia, and Pacific directorate for the United Kingdom.

“Prime Minister James Marape made it very clear that agriculture is a major employer in PNG,” he said.

“We have seen in agriculture, whether coffee or palm oil or huge natural resources that can be exploited, waiting to be developed in PNG.

“What we can do as partners to help the Government develop its richness?”

He applauded the government for establishing separate ministries for coffee, oil palm, and other commodities, as this showed "its determination to harness the immense natural resources and agriculture potential."

In Goroka, Wiseman saw coffee gardens, plantations, and manufacturers.

She said that they were also attempting to understand the difficulties the coffee sector was facing and how the UK might help to support producers.

“There is a real opportunity for PNG coffee to be sold in the UK and other parts of Europe,” she said. “We must work on finding a sustainable way to assist in coffee production.

“We have to find steps to improve the process involved in the coffee production with increased quantity with quality.”

Reference. The National (3 November 2022). “Envoy sees huge potential in agriculture”.