Construction to start in May

 By SHIRLEY MAULUDU

CONSTRUCTION of phase one of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) project in Madang is expected to start at end of May.

Trade Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru said on Friday that contractor China Shenyang International Economic and Technical Corporation Ltd had completed the design for the first phase.

He said key government stakeholders would review the design and advise the Government in next two weeks.

“I will now direct the secretary and his team to invite all our regulatory bodies like PNG Ports, Water PNG and other independent technical experts to review the design and over the next two weeks to advise the government whether the designs are within national standards, they meet all the requirements in terms of environments standards, safety standards, etc,” Maru said. 

“We are pushing for the first phase to complete within 12 months.”

He said the project would cost US$95m (K255m). US$21m (Km) counterpart funding from National Government and loan from Exim Bank of China. 

“Under this project, we will have ten canneries and other support industries,” Maru said.

“If we build these canneries, we will no longer need people to be given fishing licences where they can come and fish anywhere and bring to canneries overseas for processing – we’ll stop that.

“I was told that when we sell our fish to Philippines, we make K1 and they make K6 from the fish they process, that’s why I am so determined to deliver this project. It will stop imports and it will be bigger exports.”

Maru said the Government was  cautious about the environment.

“As a Papua New Guinean, I do not want to spoil the sea around Madang, until and unless I’m satisfied as Trade Minister and our Government is satisfied that the design and operation will not pollute our water ways and beautiful seas in Madang. We are just as concerned as our NGOs, critiques and everyone else,” he said.