Special Economic Zones

The Vanimo FTZ has been on the drawing board over the last 20 years after been initiated by the former Sandaun Governor, the late John Tekwie.

Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru said these partners will also speak during the Summit about how they will partner the Ministry and Department.

“The Department of Lands will talk about how they will work to deliver state titles to landowners who want to be involved in SEZs. I want the landowners to not just be given ILGs but state titles that their land has commercial value.

Sawang said currently we continue to import food that can be grown and processed in the country to feed ourselves; and process and export to other countries specifically to Asian countries.

She commented that the import bill for Papua New Guinea is very high. For example, rice is one commodity alone which on average incurs K700m to K850 million import bill in a year.

Governor Ramsey Pariwa who was part of Minister Maru’s delegation to Thailand last week expressed concern at the lack of infrastructures such as road accessibility, electricity problem and lack of water supply in the country.

“Thai companies have expressed interest to invest in PNG, if we are able to provide land, electricity, bridges, roads wharfs and enabling infrastructures,” he said.  

The Governor expressed confidence at Thai Investors to help PNG in its endeavor to develop Special Economic Zones including the failed PMIZ project in Madang.

Prime Minister James Marape said this at Kerevat in East New Britain Province when launching the Gazelle Agro Industrial Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on Monday.

The Gazelle Agro Industrial Special Economic Zone is a project of the Gazelle District Development Authority (DDA) that will focus on its rich agriculture and tuna potential.

The launched Gazelle Agro Industrial Special Economic Zone (SEZ), include a chicken farm which produces fresh eggs, for the people of East New Britain.