Exceptions given to criteria

PRIME Minister James Marape has reiterated that contracts valued at K10 million and below are restricted for local companies.
“However, there are provisions for the type of businesses which locals may not have the capacity in, (for example) technology and its specific aspects,” he told the 2020 PNG Security Congress in Port Moresby yesterday.
“In those circumstances, the National Procurement Act has a provision to allow non-nationals to bid.
“So without being too radically biased towards our local SMEs (small medium enterprises), we would also encouraged locals to step up.
“We have quarantined businesses up to the ceiling of K10 million for locals and non-indigenous who are citizens.
“Above K10 million, you can compete but we encourage more partnerships between locals and foreign nationals.
“Above K30 million is an open bid.”
Marape urged foreign nationals who have been living in the country for a long time to apply for dual citizenship.
“For those of you have been here a long time who not indigenous Papua New Guineans, we have dual citizenship option available,” he said.