Land-for-business woes

 LAE businessman and property developer Mathew Minape has called on the National Government to seriously review its approach to supporting small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), especially when it comes to issues over land titles, bank securities and the development of commercial properties and entities. 

Minape, who has businesses mainly in Lae and Madang, said his plans to expand over the years had been met with resistance from banks because of laws on loan security and the time it took to complete the process with the Department of Lands and Physical Planning.

“Commercial banks have often given small businessmen and women a hard time getting loans to develop their land.

“Banks often refused to accept a piece of land as security for loans and after a while, the land meant for business activities were sold to foreigners at very cheap prices, since they would only be forfeited back to the state,” Minape said.

He said ministers Richard Maru of Trade and Commerce, Ben Micah of Public Enterprise and Benny Allan of Lands and Physical Planning must work together on a system that should not only benefit the small entrepreneurs but inspire legislations that would favour Papua New Guinean business.

“The National Development Bank must be given a 101% government support so that legitimate local business people could develop their land, businesses and properties instead of just being mere spectators,” Minape told The National yesterday before leaving for Lae.

“Papua New Guineans trying to use their land as security for loans from commercial banks have often been refused because banks want more than just land as security.”

He said while Port Moresby, Mt Hagen and Kokopo were seeing an expansion in business activities, similar attempts must be made to ensure urban centres such as Madang and Goroka got their fair share of development.

“The government must provide enough funding through the NDB for Papua New Guineans to expand and grow their businesses.”

Meanwhile, Minape said the issue over a section of land in Madang town was related to a letter of consent from the Madang urban local level government.

He said because there was no LLG in place due to the recent council elections, a letter of consent could not be obtained.

“I have invited the governor and other disputing parties to come for a roundtable meeting but they have not done so.

“I am a legitimate developer and have completed all necessary government requirements to develop this piece of land … I did not steal nor bribed my way in to obtain the title,” Minape said.