Customs receives K20mil to build facility in Lae

PAPUA New Guinea Customs has received an initial K20 million from the Government for the procurement and set-up of a container examination facility at Lae’s Tidal Basin, an official says.
Customs chief commissioner David Towe said a project management team was currently in Lae to liaise with relevant agencies for the set-up to commence.
Towe said depending on the progress, more funding would be requested to appropriately equip PNG’s biggest port over the development course and increase compliance among traders.
Towe said the facility would benefit all players – ensuring a phenomenal return on investment, both in terms of revenue and community protection.
“Only high risk companies and imports will be targeted through this facility and those compliant will be able to get their cargos on a timely basis with less intervention at the wharf,” he said.
Towe said since the establishment of a similar facility at the Motukea wharf, some importers had been diverting their consignments to Lae where they would get cleared and then transferred back to Port Moresby.
He said the sooner the Lae facility was completed the easier it would be to clamp down on non-compliant traders.
“We could potentially recover the investment in the first two years of operation and the continued use of the facility which has a life-span of 10-15 years will be an added bonus for the Government.
“This is a timely and relevant investment supporting our efforts to bring back compliance and confidence to the industry.”