Morobe set for economic boom: PM

PRIME Minister James Marape says Markham Valley’s Nadzab in Lae and Morobe are set for economic boom due to the completion of three infrastructure projects.
The projects are the sealing of Yalu Bridge-Nadzab section of the Highlands Highway, opening of Nadzab International Airport and construction of Nadzab Satellite City.
Marape, in announcing a K400 million funding to complete the problematic Yalu-Nadzab Highway, said he also welcomed a statement by Lands and Physical Planning Minister John Rosso in Parliament on Tuesday on the new city.
“The new-look airport, funded by the Japanese government in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Government, is nearing completion,” he said.
“Cabinet last week approved awarding more than K1.4 billion of new road contracts throughout PNG.
“The new contracts add to those already in place under the Government’s signature ‘Connect PNG Programme’ for which about K1 billion had been expended over the last two years on roads nationwide,”he said.
“Among these is the K400 million for the Yalu Bridge-Nadzab four-lane highway.
“For more than 10 years, the people of Lae, Morobe and PNG have been complaining about the bad roads between Lae and Nadzab. People will be able to travel in comfort from Lae to Nadzab and then get on an international flight once the new international airport is completed.”
Marape said the new satellite city, an initiative of the Government and the Morobe Government, would transform Lae and Morobe.
“It is a timely intervention with the giant Wafi-Golpu Mine soon to come on stream,” he said.