Japan approves Madang proposal

THE Japanese government has approved the preliminary survey to appraise the proposal by the National Fisheries Authority for the new Madang market and fisheries jetty project.
The project will aim to benefit more than 80,000 people of Madang town, the surrounding communities and other users of Madang market.
The proposal was submitted last year through the Department of National Planning and Monitoring to the Japanese government for funding under the fisheries grant component of the Japanese Overseas Development Assistance.
National Fisheries Authority managing director Sylvester Pokajam said the proposed project would involve the construction of the vegetables and fish market buildings, the development of a fisheries jetty, which would include an ice making and ice-cum-fish storage facilities, the expansion of the waterway into the lagoon, construction of a hanging bridge and procurement and installation of related equipment and materials such as the water reservoir and emergency generator to complement market facilities.
He said the project was part of a series of projects earmarked for coastal maritime provinces, similar to the new Wewak market and jetty, with the primary objective of enhancing fisheries production at the artisanal level for Papua New Guineans by strengthening fish distribution capabilities and by providing sound and hygienic market condition for daily market users.
The construction of the fisheries jetty, ice-making and fish landing facilities would enhance market accessibility and promote local fishermen and coastal fisheries development in terms of increasing cash income opportunities and promoting local fishing businesses. 
The development of the jetty and the expansion of the waterway into the lagoon is not only an essential part of improving accessibility to the market but plays an important role in the promotion of artisanal fisheries as the centre of the regional fisheries development and enhancement of the town infrastructure, physical features and beautification.
Once developed, the jetty, ice-making and landing facilities would be used as a centre of artisanal fisheries development as well as a base of sea transportation for banana boats that link remote communities and the Madang market.
The ice-making facility will provide ice to promote the artisanal fisheries.