Border development high on workshop agenda

 A WORKSHOP focused on border development will get underway in Vanimo on Sunday, the Border Development Authority (BDA) says.

BDA acting executive chairman Fred Konga said in a statement that the two-day workshop would get underway on Sunday.

“The workshop will focus on the Asian Development Bank-funded Wutung pilot border trade and investment project outcome and improving of facilitating trade and investment,” Konga said.

“The project will help PNG benefit from the dynamic economic development in Asia.”

He said expanded trade with Indonesia’s Papua province would:

• Encourage Papua New Guineans to specialise according to their comparative advantages and enable efficient deployment of national resources;
• Increase exports;
• Disseminate ideas, management and organisation skills and technology to increase productivity of local businesses, and,
• Give consumers a wider range of products at cheaper prices.

Konga said the civil work component of the project started in December 2011 and the staff housing component was completed with construction of the main office complex in progress.

“The project is about 50% completed and is on schedule for completion as planned,” Konga said.

“In light of the project reaching its crucial completion stages, it is important that we focus more on the project outcomes. 

“That is a one-stop-shop processing facility that will enable efficient processing of labour, goods and services to facilitate trade and investment opportunities for the people of Wutung, West Sepik and PNG.”