Authority suspends compliance check over coronavirus lockdown

By PETER ESILA
THE Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) has temporarily stopped its compliance exercise on businesses in West New Britain due to the Covid-19 state of emergency, says a senior official.
IPA managing director Clarence Hoot said the exercise was for a database survey and inspection because West New Britain was a growing economy.
Hoot said the database survey and spot inspection exercise, which was supposed to start last month, was to obtain economic data and information from businesses to ensure they complied with various legislations.
“Unfortunately, it (the exercise) is on hold until the Covid-19 state of emergency situation stabilises,” he told The National yesterday.
“We were ready to travel when the Government instituted the lockdown.” Hoot said the public and business houses would be informed when the exercise would be undertaken.
Agencies to be involved include the police, Immigration and Citizenship Authority, Internal Revenue Commission, Department of Labour and Industrial Relations and the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC).
The database survey and spot inspection exercise will cover all businesses operating in Hoskins, Kimbe and Bialla.
A database survey questionnaire would be sent in advance for distribution and also issued during the inspection exercise containing relevant questions in relation to compliance issues.
Company owners, shareholders and directors are required to cooperate with the survey and the inspection team and make available the completed database survey questionnaire with the company common seal affixed.
Companies and agents who have received the survey forms are advised to complete and return completed forms.
The IPA team will collect the completed forms when they do their inspection.
Foreign-owned companies are required to present the certificate to continue doing business.