John Andrias

A  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today by Tourism Promotion Authority CEO Jerry Agus and Trade, Commerce and Industry secretary, John Andrias, and Paga Hill Development Company CEO Gudmundur Fridriksson.    

Tourism Minister Tobias Kulang and Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru were also in attendance.

“It happens to be the only district in PNG with over 18,000 hectares of State land (Urimo 13,000 and Kanawi 5,000 hectares),” Andrias said.

He also bruised aside statement that the district was chosen because the local MP Richard Maru is the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry.       

Andrias added that the total area of the grassland estimated to be more than 400,000 hectares adjoins the districts of Wewak, Angoram, Ambunti Drekiker, Wosara Gawi, Maprik and Telefomin in West Sepik.

“Kanawi land was surrendered to the State in 1972. It has been lying idle for nearly 43 years until this day the foundation investor sets foot on to make it the land of milk and honey,” Andrias told the people at the launched of the project on Wednesday at Yangoru Station.

The K55 million project will be developed by Kumul Consolidated Holdings Limited (KCHL) representing the State and developer, Innovative Agro industry (IAI).

IAI is a subsidiary of LR Group of Israel.  

The final document is a result of wider stakeholder consultation with European Union assistance under their Trade Related Assistance program-Phase 2 (EU TRA 2) by providing expertise.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Commerce and Industry had a local drafting team supported by local consultants put together this document.

The aim of the workshop was to allow stakeholders to go through the policy to give their inputs and see if there are any issues that need validating to allow the policy to fine tune.