Kokopo experiences booming business activities

 By ELIZABETH VUVU

EVERY day, there is a hype of commercial activity in Kokopo – for more than 20 years.

This is after volcanic eruptions destroyed Rabaul in 1994, elevating Kokopo as the provincial headquarter of East New Britain. 

Kokopo-Vunamai Urban local level government (KVULLG) town manager Freddy Lemeki said Kokopo town was catering for commercial activities while Takubar, a five-minute drive from Kokopo, has been converted into an industrial area.

Business development officer David Baining said there were 522 registered businesses operating in town.

Baining said 136 businesses had renewed their operating licences and 13 new businesses began operating last month.  

“Business activities are increasing in the town with at least 10 new businesses applying for business licenses monthly,” Baining said. 

He said the 522 businesses comprised companies which had been around for the past two decades.

He said the trend was one company operating different business activities. “Booming businesses registering with KVULLG on a frequent basis are retail by foreigners, hire car companies and financial institutions,” Baining said.

He said business activities in Kokopo ranged from retail and security to second-hand clothing, motor vehicle dealers, restaurants, kaibars, mobile retail shops, IT computers services, electrical shops, timber sales, broker companies, herbal shops, stationary shops, real estate, lodges, hotels, fuel and service stations, butchery and wholesale.

Baining said the town faced compliance issues with a few business houses had either imposed penalties or shut them down.

He said the businesses in Kokopo needed to comply with certain rules and regulations in doing business.