Cannery deal signing on again

 By MALUM NALU

THE on-again, off-again US$22 million fish cannery in Lae to be owned and operated by the HalishengGroup of China is expected to be signed in Port Moresby tomorrow.

It was supposed to be signed in March but bureaucratic red tape prevented it. 

Morobe Governor Kelly Naru refused to attend the signing at Government House in Port Moresby.

Those who attended included Halisheng chairman Ma Zhenhou, Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Mao Zeming, Morobe acting administrator Geoving Bilong, Morobe fisheries advisor Weti Zozingao and executives of BUP Landowner Group of Lae. 

They were left red-faced when State Solicitor Daniel Rolpagarea failed to turn up to facilitate the signing with the Halisheng Group.

Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio was present.

The signing was confirmed on Friday by National Fisheries Authority managing director John Kasu and the BUP Landowner Group of Lae.

The Authority had for the past six months been wooing back the Chinese investors and holding regular meetings with the Morobe provincial government.

The BUP group is made up of the Busulum clan of Butibam village, Ucapuc clan of Kamkumung village and Pwalu clan of Yanga village.

“The Halisheng Group (PNG) Company Ltd and PNG Government will sign the tuna project agreement on Sept 23,” Kasu said.