NFA gives K1mil to Madang for awareness on PMIZ

THE National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has given K1 million to the Madang provincial government to fund the awareness and mobilisation of people in the Pacific Maritime Industrial Zone (PMIZ) project.
Governor Ramsey Pariwa said the project was considered a dream which raised doubts and uncertainties among the people of Madang because it had been discussed for more than 20 years.
It will be placed in a trust fund.
Pariwa said with the new management of PMIZ under NFA, he was confident that the project would progress.
NFA managing director Justin Ilakini said decisions on the PMIZ must be made by the people and the Madang government.
Ilakini said PMIZ project steering committee had done some changes.
“One of the changes is that an officer from the Madang provincial administration would be sitting in that committee,” he said.
“You’ll have a voice now and a visibility in that committee.
The committee comprises representatives from the NFA and the National Planning, Treasury and Finance Departments.
“So whatever views you want to share, you have somebody in that committee,” Ilakini said.
Ilakini said another important change was to allocate K1 million every year from this year.
Pariwa agreed with the NFA that the provincial government should not be just a spectator in the PMIZ project.
Ilakini said Cabinet decided in 2020 that host provinces would take 20 per cent stake in investment in their provinces.