The bumpy road to realise multi-billion-kina agri park project

THE K2.03 billion PNG-CIAIP project Memorandum-of-Agreement (MoA) was signed on Nov 20, 2017.
It was initially estimated to cost K1.1 billion but the delay in launching the project has resulted in rising costs.
The projects in Western and Eastern Highlands are part of a massive US$4.46 billion (K15 billion) worth of impact projects to be funded by China.
The three projects are the US$4.1 billion (K13.8 billion) High Priority Economic Road Project, PNG-CIAIPP projects in Western and Eastern Highlands, and US$32 million (K108 million) Goroka Town Water Supply Upgrade Project.
“In 1997, then Agriculture Minister Tukape Masani launched what was known as the Juncao Mushroom Project in Lufa. The project grew and Lufa mushrooms were very popular in shops and markets.
“However, the project was short-lived due to various reasons (including politics),” said PNG-CIAIPP team leader Brian “Mushroom” Waii who spearheaded the Juncao Mushroom Project.
Waii recalled: “In 1995, I was accepted to study in the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, and at that time Chinese President Xi Jinping was Governor of Fujian province.
“I happened to be was one of the first students to take on mushroomology. At the graduation, we made a commitment to industrialise and popularise this technology all over the world.
“I negotiated for this project to be transferred to Eastern Highlands and in 1997, we got it implemented. The project ran well, with Chinese experts coming in, and we had full budget support from the late Mathias Karani (former Lufa MP) and then Governor Peti Lafanama.
“We opened up markets in Port Moresby, with high-profile clients including the late Sir Brian Bell and former Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, and we were doing well until some political changes forced the project closure,” he added.
Waii said when former Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso was elected in 2012, she tried to initiate discussions on the project, but failed.
“I then had talks with the Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby, as well as Fujian province, and the consensus was that the project should be resurrected on a commercial basis.
“We were looking for a commercial vehicle and CRI was already in PNG. So, we went into agreement and had further discussions with Eastern and Western Highlands provincial governments, as well as the DAL.
“The agreement was signed and the project was ready to take off. The initial plan was for Xi to visit Eastern Highlands during the 2018 Asean Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit and endorse the project but this was delayed again by unforeseen circumstances,” he added.Numu … timing right for agri parks
One of the main reasons for Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu’s joining the Opposition in January was the delay in the PNG-CIAIPP, part of which is to be located in Korofeigu in his province.
He had been waiting, since November 2017, for the project to be launched.

Left: Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu

Numu said Eastern Highlands was a province not well endowed with mineral wealth, dependent largely on agriculture and tourism to drive its domestic economy.
“As the Governor, I know that coffee is the future of my people. It will create employment opportunities and help them to become financially independent.
“The Chinese have an established market. All they wanted was just freshly-produced coffee which my people could cultivate and supply abundantly. But since the signing (in November 2017), nothing has happened. We have not even received any coffee derivation grants, functional grants, projects funds and many other funding.
“Water is a big problem, especially in Goroka Town. Under the PNG-CIAIPP, we are thankful to the Chinese government for taking the initiative to set up the water supply project in Goroka.
“This will relieve the provincial government of the burden. It is a big project and we will be looking at good people, with management skills and technical knowhow, to look after the water project,” he said.
Numu said the “timing is right” for the agriculture industrial park as it is in line with one of my provincial government’s priority to raise the level of the agriculture sector.
“The PNG-CIAIPP will no doubt trigger agricultural activities, bringing in more rewards in terms of revenue to farmers,” he added.