Govt thinks economic zones better for small businesses

The National Business

By PETER ESILA
THE Government wants to encourage special-purpose economic zones (SEZ) and not free trade zones (FTZ), says Commerce and Industry Minister Wera Mori.
He said SEZs gave room for small-medium-enterprises and specific industries and also created a supply chain.
Mori was commenting on the proposed FTZ in Vanimo.
“I am not aware of the Vanimo free trade zone, so let me address the situation when I see the petition,” he said.
“Free trade zone is a very broad vehicle.
“What we need to do is that as a government, we would want to focus on special-purpose economic vehicles.
“Tree trade zone is like you are opening a floodgate.
“It is good in terms of the economic profile of the country, a better control and traction of how we want to drive industries so that they are able to stimulate economic growth.”
Mori said FTZ was a “broad term”.
“It is an old model and does not give opportunities to the broader economic environment,” he said.
“Let’s focus more on special-purpose economic zone like the one being built in Gulf, which more or less coincides with the development of Elk-Antelope.”
Other SEZs are:

  • Industrial park at Nadzab outside Lae;
  • Pacific Marine Industrial Park in Madang;
  • Agricultural Park in Sepik (Sepik Plains);
  • Hela involving the provincial government there and the Israeli government; and
  • The proposed Bana in Bougainville.