Plan for trade taskforce approved

The Cabinet approved the establishment of an illicit trade taskforce in Parliament last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Charles Abel says.
“We’ve got an expert as well, who will be running that particular multi-agency taskforce to continue the efforts against illicit trade,” he said.
“That is people who are conducting business here, particularly in counterfeit products and other illicit, illegal, below-standard goods, unauthorised production of goods or duplication of goods that we’ve been having few issues with in Papua New Guinea.”
Abel said in Port Moresby on Friday that the taskforce needed a multi-agency effort and not just Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) and Customs.
Immigration, police and National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority (Naqia) will come in and work together to make sure that everybody conducting business in the country is doing so legally.
“Goods brought into the country meet standards,” Abel said.
“When they are here, they are paying their dues, excise, duties or tax to the Government.”
Abel said that the illicit trade taskforce now established was part of the 100-Day, 25-Point Plan.
“It’s one of the measures that has taken some time to get going,” he said.
“We’ve got an international expert to be running that taskforce.
“It will be under the oversight of the ministerial economic committee, of which I am the chairman of.”