Maru underscores need for well-equipped, world-class lab

Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Richard Maru says Papua New Guinea needs a fully equipped world-class laboratory if it is serious about improving efficiency and competitiveness of its export products.
He made the comments in Lae last week after commissioning new laboratory equipment for the National Analytical and Testing Services Ltd (NATSL) at the University of Technology.
“The current building is not suitable,” Maru said. “This country needs a world-class laboratory — one that is purposefully built and well laid out.
“We need the system, we need the training and we need maintenance.
“We must always have cutting-edge technology.”
Maru made a commitment of K200,000 to Unitech for the design a laboratory that would be used by both the industry and students.
“Unitech doesn’t need to reinvent the wheels,” he said.
“It should rather go and visit a university with an existing world-class laboratory and get ideas for designing the new NATSL.
“I am sure the private sector will help us to fund this new lab because they will also be a user of the laboratory.
“We are very grateful to partners like the EU (European Union) for their support.”
Maru said concerns had been raised about the National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (Nisit), particularly its ability to maintain and regulate standards in the country.
“Unitech is blaming Nisit for not undertaking the process to re-accredit its laboratory all these years, because Nisit has serious problems,” he said.
“It is one thing to have world-class lab equipment, but their lab results will have no standing because the laboratory does not have accreditation, and they cannot serve its purpose.
“This is a very serious issue.”
Maru said he was concerned and would write to Minister for Commerce and Industry Wera Mori to immediately investigate the matter. “There needs to be a major review of Nisit, including how its capacity can be built,” he said.
“Bio-security is an immediate priority that needs to be addressed, however, standards and regulations need to be fixed first.”