Provide incentives: Patel

The National Business
East New Britain Governor Michael Marum (left) with Talasea MP Freddie Kumai during the 11th National Parliament Members induction programme in Port Moresby yesterday. – Nationalpics by NICKY BERNARD

By PETER ESILA
THE Government should find ways to incentivise companies wanting to be involved in downstream processing, says businessman Sir Mahesh Patel.
Sir Mahesh, the founder of the City Pharmacy Ltd (CPL) Group, told new MPs during an induction programme in Parliament, that the Government should start listening to the concerns of the private sector.
Sir Mahesh said CPL’s Stop & Shop outlets got 80 per cent of its produce from farmers.
“My simple message which I have been saying for 10 years now is that if you want to rescue, recover and rebuild, Members of Parliament need to get serious and listen to the private sector, (and) put into action what the private sector has been saying for 10 years.
“The market for the farmers is here,” he said.
“You need to build the infrastructure to support them.
“When it rains, the farmers cannot go to the market.
“It sometimes takes a whole day to get the produce to the selling point, when they should be spending that time on the farms or with their family.
“Downstream processing and exports are a great idea, but if you do not fix those issues, you politicians are just talking.”