Sir Bob signs contract

GOVERNOR-General Sir Bob Dadae has signed a multi-million kina contract for the construction of the Lae-Finschhafen Highway in Morobe.
The work, which includes engineering, design and procurement, is from Bukawa village to Pindiu station, covering 100km in Finschhafen.
The contract is valued at K286,994,637, including GST, and will be funded by the national government through annual budgetary allocation of K60 million from this year for five years.
The National Executive Council (NEC) made amendment to the contract to include local content.
NEC approved 40 per cent of the price would be subcontracted to local firms and suppliers of plant equipment and material.
Cabinet approved the establishment of an infrastructure ministerial committee whose task will be to define priority core roads and economic roads and links.
The committee comprises the ministers for National Planning and Monitoring; Works and Implementation; Transport and Infrastructure; Treasury and Finance and Rural Development.
The China Railway International Group Co Ltd was awarded the contract for the Lae-Finschhafen Highway.
Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu welcomed Lae-Finschhafen Highway signing and ready for works to commence the Lae–Finschhafen Road (Fisika Highway) to open economic corridors of Morobe and even Madang.
Saonu said that the Morobe government had submitted proposals in 2018, to the Department of National Planning and Monitoring for these roads earlier for funding consideration, and now, the funding arrangements are taking precedence for work to begin this year.
“The six economic roads of Morobe identified and were submitted for funding included the Fisika Highway, Siassi Ring Road, Erap-Dinangat to Teptep Highway, 40-Mile-Tsilisili to Menyamya Highway, Bulolo-Wau to Goilala Highway, Markham Bridge to Salamaua to Morobe Station Highway,” he said.
“Now I am very pleased that Fisika Highway has been given the green light with funding and contractor engaged ready to carry actual works.
“The road will connect, Lae, Nawaeb, Finschhafen, Sialum, Kabwum and Saidor in Madang, so its economic potential is massive.”
Saonu thanked the initiative of contractor (China Railway International) for their efforts to commence the road works with funding of K40 million.