Governor applauds Tourism Ministry

Gulf Governor, Chris Haiveta, has applauded the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, and Investment Promotion Authority, for signing a partnership agreement for the benefit of Gulf and PNG.

“It is an important occasion for the Province and the presence of the agencies of the Ministry, namely Tourism Promotion Authority, National Cultural Commission and the National Museum and Art Gallery, and also from the Investment Promotion Authority, signifies a commitment to work together,” said the Governor.

“We must be mindful of the challenges and the opportunities that will enable us to deliver to the people of PNG. We must live within our means and work on achievable targets.”

Haiveta said Gulf has a long written anthropological, language and ethnological and ethno musical history, including that of missionary activities. Moreover, the people of Gulf were involved in the colonisation process, including missionary work throughout PNG as well as the world wars.

He said the Lakekamu and Taure rivers are the connection of the famous Bulldog Track to the coast.

It was the Lakekamu River which saw the supply of goods and intelligence to the New Guinea side as well as the route for the evacuation of Madang and Morobe Province.

Furthermore, the Lakekamu Basin and Kikori Delta boasts huge biodiversity in flora and fauna as well as whales and dugongs that provide opportunities for research and tourism, including birdwatching, game fishing and caving.

“Apart from that, we have our traditions and cultures that continue to survive despite early colonisation and church impact,” stated Haiveta.  

“As Leader of Country Party, our visions for primary industry (agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry) and business to provide income and sustain and improve our lives remain.

“There are other MOA signed with Cocoa Board, National Development Bank and Coffee Industry Corporation. Further, with the presence of Investment Promotion Authority, we want to bring business registration and inspection services back to Gulf.

“Our people do not travel to NCD to register their business or obtain extracts but to see their IPA agents, which is the Gulf Provincial Commerce Office, to assist them.

“For the economic sector, my Government will continue its effort to re-establish contact with various commodity boards and agencies like Coffee Industry Corporation, Livestock Development Agency, Kokonas Indastri Koporesen to return to Gulf.

“Various visits and discussions have ensued and we are looking at signing memorandum of agreements in the next quarter.”

The Governor further commended the Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism for bringing his three agencies, Tourism Promotion Authority, National Museum and Art Gallery and National Cultural Commission, to work with his team.

“And also the Investment Promotion Authority for being the first agency to start discussions,” Haiveta said.

“It is within this context and reality that my Government wishes to work with the many agencies that signed the MOU/MOA last Friday and others to follow.”

Author: 
Press release