Council to fully take part in internet pricing, planning

THE Business Council of PNG will be actively participating in internet pricing, energy investments and medium-term development plan 3 (MTDP3) partnerships this year, says president Robert Nilkare.
He said this during the seventh Back-to-Business Breakfast with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday.
Nilkare said productive conversations with O’Neill and Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel on the Foreign Investment Regulatory Authority Bill would undergo further review.
“Industry will be consulted and I am confident a law protecting our SMEs and domestic industry will be an enabler for growth and consistent with international norms,” he said.
“The private sector is here to stay.
“We are here to build the fortunes of this great country and this includes not just our SMEs, but all our people.
“As a genuine long-term partner I am thankful for the public investments on the internet, energy and Highlands Highway infrastructure the prime minister and his cabinet has undertaken with counterparts in the region.
“With the Coral Sea Fiber from Sydney to Port Moresby and domestic cabling scheduled to be completed at the end of this year, the conversation must now focus away from accessibility to affordability.
“This new infrastructure has the potential to slash current wholesale pricing.
“The PNG electrification partnership is by far the most-exciting regional investment framework emanating from the Apec year, whereby the governments of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and United States have committed K3.4 billion to electrify Papua New Guinea.
“The Government has launched its K27 billion MTDP 3 Plan and we (industry) are keen to explore partnerships in business contribution to this plan.”