Big plans for Madang fisheries

 By GYNNIE KERO in Madang

MADANG will now have a new fisheries market with a jetty, ice-making facilities, back-up power, water supply, sanitation and waste areas.

The K26 million project is expected to be completed in November.

National Fisheries Authority (NFA) chairman Job Pomat said the rehabilitation of the Madang market was part of the Government’s coastal fisheries development.

“Building a market alone without key associated facilities may not prove to serve the rural coastal fishermen’s needs,” he said.

“Construction of the Madang town market is funded through the grant assistance from the Government of Japan with counter-funding from the National Fisheries Authority and the Madang provincial government. 

“National Fisheries Authority will this year assist with K2 million.”

The Madang project was the second concept of market development after Wewak.

Madang Governor Jim Kas said the new town market would significantly benefit the 500,000 people of Madang and other provinces who travelled to Madang to sell their garden produce.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the town market project in Madang yesterday, Kas said the provincial government had plans to establish additional markets to cater for the growing number 

of vendors flocking into the province.

“This market is the start of the new formal sector finance generating activity that the Government of Japan has contributed to,” he said.

“For Madang to have this market and the fish market is a huge development for the people.

“This is the first market in this town because of the interconnection we have with the highway; the number of sellers coming to Madang market is more than what we are expecting; so the Madang government is trying to plan to provide another two or three markets.”