Wera Mori

The five-year plan from 2018 to 2022 is the Departments road map in how it delivers its targets within the Governments overarching goal.

It was launched by Department Secretary, Andrew Liliura, and Minister for Commerce and Trade, Wera Mori, on Friday November 2^nd.

Department Staff and management gathered in Port Moresby for the launching of the Departments first ever Corporate Plan.

Department Secretary, Andrew Liliura, said with the Governments priority focused on Inclusive Economic Growth, the Department had a major role in achieving this goal.

The United Kingdom has provided funding for the development of the CSN in PNG, worth 3 billion kina.

The CSN can empower and provide PNG’s national standards experts the opportunity to have a voice in the international standards community.

Minister for Commerce and Industry, Wera Mori signed off on the project launching, saying the CSN is a start to building PNG’s capacity in areas such as bio-security.

The delegation, led by NZPNGBC Chair Murray McCully, will be in the country till August 24.

Welcoming the group to the country today, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Wera Mori, said PNG is looking forward to establishing partnerships with various businesses in the country.

He said their visit to PNG comes at a very important time when the country is going through a financial situation, especially with trade relationships.

Mori added that as PNG enters the next cycle, there is a strong desire to see New Zealand play a more important role across the board.

Mori made this call after being questioned by this newsroom on the Government’s plans in dealing with especially Asians dominating small business operations.

Minister Mori claims Asians are illegally running canteens in settlements and other semi-urban areas without proper work permits.

“They were not supposed to take over the job opportunities that are meant for the locals.

“My department can just get a boat and ship them to where they came from.”

However, he blames the Department of Foreign Affairs and Labour for their entry into the country.

Minister Mori said while submissions will be made to the Government for funding in the 2018 budget, it may not be enough given the current economic period.

He said the Government is still committed to the SME sector and will continue to support them.

Before heading into a National Executive Council Meeting yesterday, Minister Mori stated that he expects the Government to allocate funding for projects which they can carry out nationwide.

However, he added that may not be sufficient and that there are other avenues for funding.

This is in response to the announcement by the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Wera Mori, to revive rundown plantations through cooperative societies.

In September, Mori announced plans by his Ministry to spearhead the revival of rundown plantations through the cooperative society scheme, which had died out.

Yesterday, Agriculture Minister Allan said his Ministry and Department was mandated to oversee the sector.

Commerce and Industry Minister, Wera Mori, gave the assurance during the opening of the SME Corporation Expo in Port Moresby today.

Mori said the Government will ensure that SMEs receive the support they need to prosper, especially in funding.

At the opening, Minister Mori reiterated the government’s agenda of supporting the SME sector.

However, he said this must be translated into actions and not just rhetoric.

Minister Mori said accessing financing is one aspect which needs innovative thinking and he has shared this sentiment with the SME Corporation.

Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Wera Mori, clarified that currently, livestock is not covered under the plantation revival project.

However, he said an approach similar to what they are doing to revive plantations may be taken on board later on.

“At the moment we want to touch on the cash crops like coffee, coconut, cocoa and rubber. That will involve the participation of many people,” he said.

The Cooperative Society of PNG is parked under Mori’s portfolio.

Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Wera Mori, said following a recent visit to Vietnam, he learned that the country invested in the commodity which has now bypassed PNG.

He said while PNG had already begun exporting coffee by the 1960s, Vietnam’s coffee industry was in its infant stages.

However, the South East Asian country is now exporting more bags while PNG struggles.

“Vietnam did not produce one bag of coffee in 1975. When PNG gained Independence, we produced one million green bean bags.