Contract cancelled for Baruni landfill

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 11, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)


NCD Governor Powes Parkop has confirmed reports that Kana Construction, contracted to convert the Port Moresby’s only dump into a sanitary landfill has had its contract cancelled with the city authority.

Having awarded the contract to the local contractor in 2014, it was to apply the technical knowhow of the Japanese, through the JICA J-PRISM (Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional on Solid Waste Management in the Pacific Island Countries) Program.

It was also to upgrade the day to day operations and management of the dump which is the only one that caters for the nation’s capital, after the closing of the previous 6 Mile dump as a result of a land dispute, regarding encroachment onto customary land.

Governor Parkop said the decision was one that was taken by the commission’s board based on recommendations put by the city management who were of the opinion that the contractor was not fulfilling to the scope that it was required.

“They were disappointed with their work up to now in terms of deliverable so we had no choice but to make that decision,” Mr Parkop said.

“I hope we can get another contractor soon as the work is not completed. We are almost 80% completed, but we have to build the other critical parts of the dump so that it functions totally, which means clearing it out, compacting it, getting rid of the chemical waste and so on, cleaning it out before it is released into the environment.”

“It is a world class facility once it is completed and people of Port Moresby can be proud of it- we’ve invested their money in it because the city is growing and changing and it cannot be like in the past where an open pit and foul smell and gas emitted all over the place to affect people’s lives.”

The battle is not over: Parkop

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 4, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has called on all stakeholders in the fight against HIV and AIDs to not be complacent despite the drop in the prevalence rate over recent years.

Governor Parkop made the call when speaking at the UN Women and UNAIDS Media Awards for excellence in reporting.

“I want to use this occasion to call on all of us. The battle is not over,” Governor Parkop said.

“We are almost at the finishing line- but unless we make the extra effort- we might not reach the finishing line. It is important that we recognize this.”

“Because I note and sense that people are becoming complacent, NAC (National Aids Council) in a bit of crisis, the provincial aids committee are nowhere to be seen, even here in the city they have not been functioning for 2 years.”

“We have not been able to remit the funds that we have allocated for this effort through our PAC (Provincial Aids Committee) and out to all our organisations who are doing wonderful work.”

He said it was not over yet with the fear that the prevalence rate could go up again.

“We might become a generalized epidemic again, and that warrants all of us to take stock and continue to be alert and be proactive.”

“In our city particularly we must focus on those risky communities and we all know the area of high risk in our city.”

“Men having sex with men, transgender, we need to create and environment in which people are not stigmatized, not discriminated, they can come seek help and seek support, and get treatment, recover, live long life and importantly we continue to reduce the prevalence and more important to help those living with HIV and AIDs.”

He said despite the rate reduction, the country is still far away from providing the type of support that is needed to those with HIV & AIDS in the country.

PNG to hold trade investment roadshow in NZ

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 4, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

LOCAL businesses and industries will take part in a planned trade investment roadshow in February next year.

The roadshow was agreed upon during the APEC Meet in Peru, when PNG Trade Minister Richard Maru met with New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay.

“We have now agreed between himself and me that by February in the third week of February PNG will send down a Trade and Investment delegation to New Zealand for a trade investment roadshow.” Minister Maru said.

“That could take a day where all our companies, our fisheries sector, our tourism sector, our mining and petroleum sector, energy sector- all of us will go and market opportunities in Papua New Guinea and also work with them to bring some new Zealand investors to invest in our country.”

“We are also keen on securing visa on arrival for our people going to New Zealand and also vice versa those New Zealand businesses and citizens.”

Minister Maru also indicated that apart from the investment roadshow, the delegation will also organize educational tours for some industry players in the country to study New Zealand industries and also meet state regulatory bodies of industries.

“For example TPA (Tourism Promotion Authority) will meet with its sister organization in New Zealand, NFA to meet with its sister organization, poultry association of Papua New Guinea has been in contact with me they want to go and look at biosecurity and also they want to go and have a relationship with the Poultry Association of New Zealand.”

“NZ has the highest chicken biosecurity standard in the world because they are a chicken disease free country and we are keen to understand and get technical support from New Zealand to establish our biosecurity standard for chicken.”

“So that we can protect the industry- at the moment PNG is a chicken disease free country, and NZ same standards.”

He said Australia has had problems with many diseases and many other countries within the region.

“We keen on getting our association engaged with New Zealand, getting NQIA (National Quarantine Inspection Authority) with their sister association in New Zealand so that we can have the technical training – we can get scientist to go and study and start building the relationship.”

PNG keen to open trade front with Russia

By MATTHEW VARI 

Sunday, December 4, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

PAPUA New Guinea has expressed its extreme interest in opening up trade with Russia.

The aspiration was revealed by Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru following what he described as positive talks with his Russian counterpart Denis Manturov of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade during the APEC meet last month in Peru.

Minister Maru said of the Russia’s strong intentions to send over a trade delegation in February, next year, to the country.

“They promised us that they will come only after the signing of a Trade and Economic Partnership MoA (Memorandum of Agreement) with Russia,” Maru said.

“I’ve asked them to email it over for the government to sign the MoA with the Russian Government to basically affirm that PNG is in to develop and grow trade ties with Russia on the back of that they will send a delegation.”

“I have asked them to send a trade delegation in the last week of February so we can receive them and do presentations with them and they can look at investment opportunities and at the same time they can look at goods that they may want to buy from our country.”

Mr Maru attributed the first trade dialogue with the Russians to the APEC meet in Peru, as an indicator of the kind of opportunities that await PNG come 2018.

“We wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet with their trade minister and I am happy that this will provide the opportunity for them to come and for us to go.”

“It is a country that we are not doing business with, and we are hopeful and we told them that we will do anything and everything to welcome them and receive them to Papua New Guinea.”

“We are excited about this opportunity, a new frontier in terms of business, and the government of Papua New Guinea is very keen to engage with our Russian friends.”

He said that in the meet, discussions were also held of the possibility of scholarship to study in Russia for students.

“While there we also spoke to the Russian trade minister about the possibility of Russia opening scholarships for PNG students to study in some of their universities.”

“I think they are keen to do that and I will be writing to the foreign minister to chase that up. We are very keen on sending our students to study in Russia.”

“We want to see more Papua New Guineans to go and live and study there to get to understand their language, their culture, and their country.”

When asked about the sectors the Russian may be interested in for potential investments- he said they had not indicated as yet, however, Maru indicated the mining, petroleum and gas sectors may appeal to them.

“No we do not know yet but obviously they will be interested in the mining, petroleum, and the gas sector. I have no doubt about that- also they could be interested in some of our other resources including fishing.”

“We don’t know who is going to come. As soon as we get the MoA signed off and we send over and they will send over a profile of the companies.”

“But especially the resource sector, and fisheries they could be interested in and our agriculture products like coffee, cocoa, coconut oil- those are the sectors which I think they would be interested in.”

Philippines getting more out of PNG: Maru

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 4, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

TRADE, Commerce and Industry Minister, Richard Maru has expressed dissatisfaction with the Philippines with what he said was very unfair and lopsided trade situation between both countries.

Minister Maru said that in a meeting with the Philippines Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez.

“We discussed the current state of the trade investment relationship which PNG currently has with the Philippines.”

“The issue that is of concern to our government is the lack of two way trade from the Philippines. For now we have over 30,000 Filipinos working in Papua New Guinea, they have an airline that comes in twice a week now, and they also have the Filipinos investing and harvesting all our marine resources, sea tuna dominated by Philippines companies.”

“Most of our students are now going for studies, but you don’t see a lot of trading of good between PNG and Philippines,” Minister Maru said.

He said the relationship is skewed in favour of the Philippines, with the government keen on seeing how they can give market access to Papua New Guinean products from canned goods, biscuits and other products through an access agreement.

“This is a discussion I have started with the trade minister that you cannot continue to just enjoy business benefits and employment and all our business coming into your country.”

“We need to look at how we can also benefit from that relationship with the Philippines people and the government of Philippines.”

“The issue of two way trade has to be discussed and we must look at a bilateral trade agreement between our two countries.”

He said such an agreement takes into account benefits that their (Filipinos) country is getting from our country in terms of employment, business, and raw materials leaving PNG and going to the Philippines, which includes the amount of funds that are invested in sending students in Filipino institutions.

“For now for example if Ox & Palm goes to the Philippines market they charge them 30% duty to access the Philippines market which makes it very expensive.”

“What we are saying to the Philippines government is look because you are taking fish out of PNG and your citizens are employed here and our citizens are going there for school we are a major contributor to your economy.”

“That discussion has started in the APEC Meeting in Peru and we are now working on a letter that will go to their trade minister express those concerns and look at how we can address the issue.”

Philippines fishing industry put on notice

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 4, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE Philippines fishing industry has been put on notice through the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru, to his counterpart of the Trade and Industry Department of the Philippines during the APEC meeting in Lima, Peru..

While referring to the huge imbalance in trade between both countries, minister Maru elaborated on the biggest imbalance of all in the fisheries sector.

“One of the way that they benefit is the Philippines fishing boats are bringing 70% of the Tuna catch back to the Philippines and processed in the Philippines,” Maru said.

“What I have explained to the minister is that as soon as we start the marine park (PMIZ) we are now going to change the policy so no one will be allowed to take unprocessed fish into the Philippines or any other country for that matter.”

“I have given notice to the Philippines government that this is going to happen. We do not want in future, when we build a marine park, anyone to fish and take fish to other canneries throughout the world including Philippines.”

He made the stance known by the conflict of interest the country faces with job employment and creation, along with the competition for the European Market that both countries compete for, despite the irony that the Philippines competes with tuna from PNG to sell as their own.

“The reason is because when you bring fish to other canneries you are creating employment to them in their country.”

“The other aspect is that Philippines has now what we call market access to the European Union. What it means is that their fish also goes to the European Union market without paying duty.”

“And they are competing with fish from Papua New Guinea. We also have the same market access agreement.”

“When our fish is caught in PNG water by the Filipino boats go to the Philippines and it is processed as if it is their fish and they sell it to the same market that we are also competing.”