Ambassador opens new K26m market

Scores of people witnessed the opening of the K26 million Madang market last Friday by Japanese ambassador Morio Matsumoto and Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Mao Zeming.
Deputy Prime Minister Sir Leo Dion, who represented Prime Minster Peter O’Neill and the National Executive Council, thanked Japan and its people for funding the facility through its agent, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.
“This is an investment that we are actually proud of as a government. I appeal to the users to take care of and look after the facilities,” Sir Leo said
He encouraged market users, the Madang  government, district development authority and the urban local level government to look after the market to ensure the people take advantage of the facility by selling their goods to earn an income for their families.
The market consists of two divisions – one for market goods and crafts, and the other, opposite the waterfront, for fish.
Matsumoto said Japanese people emphasised the importance of hygiene so he encouraged vendors to consider safety and cleanliness of the market at all times when selling their goods.
Zeming said the construction of the market was to support the development of coastal fisheries in the country with a specific focus on wealth creation, poverty alleviation and food security.
“The project is designed to provide an integrated approach, that is building a town market with its essential components, such as a fish market and jetty facilities, providing access between fish trading and overall vegetable marketing in a one-stop approach,” he said.
The official opening was done by Matsumoto and Zeming and witnessed by Madang Governor Jim Kas and MP Nixon Duban.
They later planted a candle tree in the middle of the lawn to celebrate the opening of the market.
Duban said the market was one of the biggest projects in the province.
He said the market would help raise the profile of Madang.