Businesses affected by increasing fees: Official

THE significant increase in work permit and factory licence fees are among challenges that business houses are faced with, according to the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (POMCCI).
President Rio Fiocco told The National that some Government departments had released those fees towards the final quarter of last year and this would delay work permits for some of the business houses this year.
“If they (businesses) want to renew their factory licences or work permits, it would be a challenge,” he said.
“The fees are higher than the rate of inflation and it is a challenge to our members and the business houses.”
While providing an update of POMCCI, Fiocco said the chamber was hopeful to stage its breakfast meetings this year with the first one scheduled on Jan 28, where PNG Power Ltd managing director Flagon Bekker would be the guest speaker.
Fiocco noted that last year was a difficult year for the chamber and its members due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions where the chamber was not able to host most of the meetings with its members and the business community.
While providing an outlook for this year, Fiocco said there was still uncertainty among the business houses as there would not be any new major resources starting in the first six months of the year.
He said the delay in reaching agreements for the Porgera gold mine in Enga did not directly affect the chamber and its members, however, it directly affected businesses in Lae and the Highlands.