By VERONICA MANUK
THE New Ireland government is planning to develop a modern international airport using two runways on Emirau Island that was used during Second World War by US Air Force.
This is one component of a proposed integrated free trade zone, fishing, tourism and transport hub project mooted by the Sir Julius Chan government.
The provincial executive council has approved a pre-feasible study to be conducted to determine whether the two runways were sufficient or there is a need for a third one.
Sir Julius said the pre-feasibility study would need to be undertaken to a standard that it could be used by the State and New Ireland provincial government to secure access to domestic and international funding.
Sir Julius said international backers of Emirau Development Trust comprised a consortium of reputed financiers from several countries, who were ready to support the people of Emirau and New Ireland to develop the untapped resources of the island and surrounding areas.
Sir Julius said the proposal was most comprehensive and embodies a framework that could set new economic peripheries for New Ireland and PNG as a whole, with half of the world population in Asia and north to Japan, China and the West Coast of the American continent.
Sir Julius said that several years ago, the Russian space administration and other world players expressed interest in building a rocket launching pad on the same location on Emirau Island because of its close proximity to the Equator and orbital slot which hold the key to rapid space launch and modern communications development.