Minister Richard Maru

Yangoru barracks houses nearing completion

The visit on Friday December 8 was part of the tour of the Sepik Plains Special Economic Zones with the Japan Development Institute (JDI) team.

Minister Maru said the building of houses at the mobile barracks is nearing completion and contractors who will work on the drainage systems and sealing of the road are expected to start work in the coming weeks. He said the barracks is expected to complete next year. 

Maru reiterated that the purpose of building the barracks is to secure all the investments and investors in the proposed Sepik Plains SEZ in the Province.

Essential Services in Wutung funded

The National Government through the ministry would fund the bore water supply system and sort out land proposed for the Trade Centre at Wutung while the provincial government would get the power lines from Vanimo to Wutung.

“PNG Power Limited had failed us by not getting the power lines from Vanimo and Wutung though we released funds for that when I was the Minister for National Planning and Monitoring in 2018,” said Maru.

He urged the provincial government to start working on the power lines as soon as possible. 

Dialogue with Indian EXIM Bank

Discussions confirmed that delays were on the PNG side.

The Indian EXIM Bank clarified that they are at a standstill until the Government of PNG process, through the Ministry and Department of Treasury, clears the relevant formalities to complete the Loan Agreement, including the prequalification process that needs to be expedited to carry out the Detailed Project Report, which is a key determinant of approval to further utilisation of the LOC.

Delegation meets with data intelligence firm

The PNG delegation met the company on day two of its fact-finding mission.

SocialCops informed the PNG delegation that 90 percent of the world's data was created in the last two years.

They said an abundance of data already exists on PNG and is accessible both online and offline from international and local sources.

These primary data can be sourced from census, ministry reports and new monitoring mechanisms and can be used to track the progress of the Government's goals such as Vision 2050, Alotau Accord II and the Sustainable Development Goals.

PNG - A tourism goldmine

Merzban Majoo is a senior vice president of BLS International Group, one of the world's leading brands in government to citizen services and is present in 61 countries. He said PNG's dynamic cultures, festivals, exotic flora and fauna easily make PNG a tourism goldmine.

All MPs to perform their roles during election period

Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru told his people in the Yangoru Saussia District last week that all MPs and ministers will continue to perform their roles until the end of the election process.

The local Yangoru Saussia MP said, the District Development Authority will continue to fund its commitments in the districts.

Maru also appealed to his people to respect the democratic rights of each and other and no voter intimidation must be practiced.

Restriction of Ox & Palm to Fiji, ‘not acceptable’

He said Ox & Palm is currently being exported to other countries in the region including Australia, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and to Europe.

Speaking at the recent MSG Summit in Port Vila, Vanuatu, Maru informed his colleague Ministers that changes to the agreement should include no tariffs on salt, mackerel and sugar for PNG by 2017.

Furthermore, on PACER-Plus he said PNG will not sign on to the PACER-Plus but will stand ready to support other MSG members who want to become members.