Govt-owned businesses face overhaulGovt-owned businesses face overhaul

GOVERNMENT-owned businesses will be overhauled to make customer service their number one priority, Independent Public Business Corp (IPBC) managing director Thomas Abe said yesterday.
Announcing the board’s approval of the 2012 business plans and budgets for public enterprises as the internal framework to operate, Abe said the emphasis would now be on more efficient organisational structures, cost effective and productive practices at all levels and full compliance with due processes.
“It is clear than from past years that public enterprises have lost their way, he said.
“For example — not one single enterprise has paid a dividend since 2007.
“That is unacceptable, and indicates the extent of the problems within these critical service providers.”
Abe stressed that the practice of paying dividends was devised in 2002 as a way of enforcing commercial discipline within public enterprises, and making a return on some of the state’s investment in them.
Abe said the government had re-focused the efforts of IPBC and the public enterprises it controlled, giving more stress to service delivery.
This was reflected in this year’s business plans, which focused on customer service standards, good governance and due process, financial efficiency and conformity to applicable policies and legislation.
The major projects and plans for each public enterprise were also outlined, including investment plans and targeted actions.
“IPBC and the government will closely monitor compliance with the plans.
“IPBC and public enterprises will renew their focus on continuous improvements to entrench commercial disciplines in their operations.
“Public enterprises must remember that they are owned by the people of Papua New Guinea, and they are funded by the people of Papua New Guinea through taxes, licences and charges,” he said.