The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project in the Yangoru-Saussia district of East Sepik will provide 300 employment opportunities to the people in the district.
Local MP and Minister for Trade Commerce and Industry Richard Maru told Loop PNG today that this is what his district needed.
“Right now, 85 percent of students doing Grade 12 will be school leavers and such project is what the people of Yangoru-Saussia needed the most,” says Maru.
He was responding to Don Polye’s comments who queried whether an Israeli company engaged by a minister in his electorate is reputable.
The Opposition Leader claimed that the company, LR group of companies, engaged by Maru was allegedly involved in the controversial generator deal at a cost of K144 million.
However, Maru said the Cabinet has engaged the LR group of companies because of its reputation in the country by delivering major agricultural projects like the Nine-Mile farm, Koroba agro industrial centre, Tari-Piwa agro industrial centre, Port Moresby and Lae gas turbines and others.
He said in 2015, the Nine-Mile farm became the first exporter of fresh vegetables out of PNG, under its agreement with the McDonald franchise for the supply of fresh vegetables overseas beginning with Fiji.
“The State does not go and engage any clown investors from the streets to come and invest in the country.
“We really look and check the investors well before submitting our proposals to the government for approval,” says Maru.
He said for Polye to come as low and made bad comments against such investors are uncalled for.