Post PNG, IPA tie up to service more people

Business, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 08th November 2011

By BOSORINA ROBBY
THE days of going to Port Moresby from all corners of PNG to access Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) services would soon be a thing of the past, thanks to an agreement struck between the Post PNG and IPA.
Signed yesterday, the deal basically allowed the IPA to use Post PNG’s offices nationwide.
It was expected to begin next year at post offices in Kimbe, Mendi, Lorengau, Kavieng, Poppondetta, Aitape, Kainantu and Kiunga with an extensive roll-out programme to be carried out soon after
IPA managing director Ivan Pomaleu said the key challenge at the IPA was reaching out to the people.
“As you know, all transactions currently come to Port Moresby. We had opened four branches in the regions to cater for this, but it still did not do a good coverage.
“Now, with Post PNG, we have 49 potential ways to reach out to more people,” he said.
Pomaleu added that this partnership would ease some of their front counter arrangement, and would improve the reach of their services to more people in the country.
He said this collaboration was part of the authority’s strategic plan 2010-13 to partner and network to meet the operating challenges of delivering their services.
Pomaleu said that Post PNG would receive IPA registration and compliance forms, including payments at any Post PNG counter and deliver to IPA through its Express Mail Services (EMS).
“The forms, once completed and IPA fees paid in full either through bank deposit or by cash at the Post PNG counter and administrative handling fee, becomes applicable and charged by the Post Office.
“After the documents have been processed at the IPA, a response or a certificate is then dispatched through the normal postal services.
Post PNG chief executive officer Peter Maiden said accessing the 49 post offices would give IPA an instant access to the greater population of this country and the largest logistical and point of sale network in PNG.
“The IPA and Post PNG Ltd have an important obligation not only to the business world but more importantly to the PNG people.
“The collaboration of strengths between the two entities is an excellent example of the big picture,” he said.
Maiden said that initiatives with the IPA would now enable people to register a company or incorporate an organization very conveniently at the local post office.
He said the post office provided a business centre where people could send and receive mail, including the EMS courier, send and receive money internationally and domestically, as well as access the recently launched e-commerce platform and mobile SMK to all parts of the country.
A person wanting to register a company or access other IPA services can walk into the participating post office and ask the customer service officer for the respective form, which is free of charge.
After completing all the information and supporting details, the form could be lodged after paying the required fees.
From there, Post PNG will dispatch the forms to IPA in Konedobu, Port Moresby, via EMS, which would otherwise normally take three working days.
An IPA hotline help desk would be made available to help applicants in relation to statutory requirements and training for Post PNG staff on standard procedures