Local Papua New Guinea businesses continue to miss out on business opportunity when the National Government gets loan from the Asian Development Bank says Oro Governor Gary Juffa.
He made this comments following media reports that Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch will get a $US 300 million (K928 million) loan from ADB to support the National Budget.
“My concern is this, the ADB in Papua New Guinea appears to ignore the facts, there are Papua New Guinea firms that can deliver the projects,” Governor Juffa told Loop PNG.
He said it does not make sense when the National Government gets the loan but ADB continue to influence the awarding of contracts to projects in the country especially to foreign firms.
“ADB Loans are structured in such a way that it appears we have select or put up with what ADB selects and that company brings their own workers, machinery, and then any revenues earned are funnel back to the company’s mother nation,” Juffa said.
“This is unfair for the companies in Papua New Guinea and also unfair to the people of Papua New Guinea, for what is worse is the Government is not making an effort to ensure quality control because of the projects is not up to scratch.”
Meanwhile, the ADB country manager did not reply to questions sent from this newsroom when the story went to press.