Marape

He made these remarks in Parliament recently when acknowledging the support of Members of Parliament in passing the Connect PNG Bill.

“In terms of the rolling the 20-year programme, we will develop, rebuild, and sustain 16,200km of strategic roads comprising 4,200km of Priority National Roads, 1,800km of strategic Missing Link Roads (new road constructions), 9,000km of Provincial and District Roads, and 2,000m of bridges.

The Prime Minister mentioned the Union Bank of Switzerland Australia and Pac LNG as among those major players involved.  

“I call upon UBS wherever you are, UBS Australia who facilitated the transaction should come and assist the inquiry. UBS bank who lend this money out, come and assist us with this inquiry.

Pac LNG, who owns 20 per cent of the ELK-Antelope project, was the biggest beneficiaries of this transaction. $US 800- 900 million dollars was transacted from UBS to Pac LNG so that Oil Search will own shares in Papua LNG/PRL 15.

He said, it is a privilege to set foot inside one of the country’s pioneer industry, as far as food processing is concern.

He was greeted on arrival at the Paradise Foods Limited Premises, and escorted into inside to begin the official tour of the factory.

Paradise Foods Limited has been in existence since 1945 and left its foot prints all over the country.

The Prime Minister said, “Today I come and see the industry that has been in existence outside of political motivation/political incentives that have been at work.”

He said this yesterday, while receiving gifts from the people of Kikori, to thank him for accepting their invitation and visiting their district to launch the Ihu SEZ recently.

Marape said the country’s current National Budget was unable to fully support such big projects, therefore, the Government would support through policy directives that will enable private investors to invest in the project.

“Government will help in ensuring that the policy environment and framework is there to support work in establishing Special Economic Zones,” he said.