K2.5mil Ahi profit set for projects

By GLORIA BAUAI
AHI Investment Ltd (AIL) has declared a profit dividend of K2.5 million from 2022 which will be used to implement projects in the six Ahi villages this year.
AIL holds six subsidiaries from which profits were chanelled to its trustee company, Ahi Prudential Development Ltd (APLD), and Ahi Hope Foundation to be used on projects and initiatives that improve the lives of Lae traditional owners.
This dividend handover took place on Saturday, witnessed by business-donor partners and Ahi landowner group representatives.
APLD chairman Nelly McLay said the main projects earmarked for this year were Yanga community’s new Lutheran Church, Three-Mile Police Station refurbishment, improving elementary schools in the six villages, health programmes and a land mobilisation initiative.
McLay said the company had adopted the United Nation’s sustainable development goals and focused its projects around these, and over the years since its set-up in 2016, had already delivered key projects like bore water supply to improve living standards in the villages.
She said one of such activities this year was a mobile clinic programme launched last week between the Ahi Hope Foundation and PNG Family Health to address issues on general health, gender-based violence, men’s health, infant and maternal health, and youth development in the six villages.
APLD corporate services manager and board member Anne Dazo said Kamkumung was the pilot village for the land mobilisation programme where clans would be registered as integrated landowner groups to make their land bankable and attractive for investments.
Dazo said all planning beginning from village cooperative associations were presented to Ahi Hope where the requests were screened and presented to the main board through APLD for funding approval.
“APLD and AIL will fix priority projects to fund this year,” she said.