PMIZ design needs NEC okay

 By GYNNIE KERO

Trade Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru says final designs of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone project will be brought before the National Executive Council by next March.

He said the state wanted the billion kina project to be delivered in the next 12 months.

Last Friday, Maru said the Chinese Exim Bank had made the decision to unfreeze the US$78 million (K198m) loan that was meant to fund projects, build tuna processing facilities and develop tuna port facilities. 

The Government in the 2015 budget has allocated K33.8 million towards the PMIZ project.

Maru said that police personnel from Port Moresby would be brought in to Madang to provide additional security for the project.

“They (contractors) are doing the final hydrology study as we speak, that should be completed by end of February. The final designs will be going to NEC (National Executive Council) by March and with input from National Fisheries Authority, everybody is happy and we expect construction to go from there. 

“I am pleased to announce that the Chinese Exim Bank has reinstated the loan. I was with the chairman the other night and they are very happy to release the funding. All the issues are sorted out. 

“The department (Commerce Trade and Industry) will bring police from Port Moresby to help police on the ground. No one is to disturb the project anymore. We want PMIZ to be delivered in next 12 months.”

Maru has called on the National Fisheries Authority to flag all current fishing licence holders to invest in the project canneries in Madang. 

“The challenge is we must find investors to come in and locate, we must find 10 at minimum.

“After the construction we should not just issue licences to people who fish in our waters,” he said.

He added that the government wanted to partner with the private sector to provide power and water for the project in Madang.

“Madang has no water or power for the project. 

“Otherwise we will build canneries and no water and power; we are under a lot of pressure to do that,” Maru said.