Businesses want more talks

By LEMACH LAVARI
Consultative meetings between the private sector and Government are important to attract investments, says the chairman of Rural Industries Council Sir Brown Bai.
He said dialogue through the consultation process was very weak and created conflicting approaches in doing businesses.
Sir Brown said this at the 40th anniversary of Hargy Oil Palm Ltd yesterday in Port Moresby. He is a board member of the company.
Sir Brown said the private sector had raised the consultation issue in various forums. He said the government needed to work together with the private sector to create an environment that would attract investors.
“This is not only foreign investors but Papua New Guineans investors too,” Sir Brown said.
“For the agriculture sector, it is important for us in PNG to set a climate conducive for investments to take place. We need investments to develop world-class operations in PNG.”
Sir Brown said factors such as deteriorating infrastructure, law-and-order, access to credit for farmers, extension services and limited research added to the investment conditions of the country.
“A lot of the roads in rural areas are not in good state,” he said. “As a result, it is very expensive to operate in the rural areas. People are coming to put their money into the country, (so) let us all help to foster a conducive business environment.”
Sir Brown said all sustainable areas of growth in the economy must be promoted.