The Prime Minister has committed to taking a special interest in PNG’s poultry and dairy industry.
He made the undertaking following a series of questions from the Yangoru-Saussia MP in a recent Parliament sitting.
Yangoru-Saussia MP and former national planning minister, Richard Maru, recently asked Prime Minister James Marape why PNG is importing poultry products from other countries despite having its own K1.2 billion chicken industry.
Referring to recent figures from PNG Customs, Maru said K120 million worth of chicken was imported under the current Government in the last 12 months.
“Live chicken from countries like Australia, China, Malaysia – countries that are well-known for diseases like the Newcastle disease. NAQIA had been allowing import permits for importers to import chicken,” said Maru.
“Are you going to continue to import chicken and not support our local chicken industry and expose the industry to all manner of diseases?”
Maru further asked if the Government will focus on building the dairy industry in this supplementary budget.
The Prime Minister, in response, gave the assurance that the Government is fully aware of this country’s prevalent economic conditions, saying they will take a closer look at chicken and imports.
“But let me put a statement. Our government clearly has a policy view. Gavman mani yumi save givim lo asistim ol bisnis em mipla les nau,” he stated. “Mipla laik putim mani lo benk instead lo givim ol wantok bisnis or crony business. Yu wanpla praivet sekta yu gat interest lo wok lo dairy o wok lo chicken o wok lo wanem, yu karim mani blo yu kam. Mipla ba gim yu insetiv lo polisi tasol.”
The PM emphasised that they are on the lookout for solid investors who have the ‘balance sheet’ to bring their own money to put into PNG.
Meantime, he said the Commerce and Trade Minister will be announcing a partnership with BSP and NDB for local SMEs to access funding to increase their capacities.
(Yangoru-Saussia MP, Richard Maru)