Prime Minister James Marape has said his government has raised vital infrastructure expenditure across Papua New Guinea. He made his comments while launching the Manus Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and opening the K101.9 million Momote International Airport.
Marape said that the boost in spending would benefit all regions of the country. He added that other developments included K10 million being set aside to construct headquarters for the SEZ; the National Fishing Authority establishing a cold storage facility for exports; and the Bank South Pacific and the National Development Bank announcing K10 million for SMEs in the agricultural, fisheries, and tourist sectors.
“In three hard and tough economic years, we have pushed our investments to key infrastructure in all provinces of our country, unlike the recent past government where only one or two places were getting lop-sided development at the expense of rest of Papua New Guinea,” Marape said.
“We have embarked on new seaports like N’Drauke, Vanimo and Manus, to name a few, and rehabilitation of existing economic ports like Kavieng, Lorengau, Oro, Kimbe, Rabaul, Madang, Lae and Port Moresby.
“We have embarked on K20 billion worth of road infrastructure over the next 20 years to connect PNG by reliable roads overlaid with electricity and Internet.
“Highways like Momote to West Coast Manus, Alotau to Port Moresby, Port Moresby to Kerema /Ihu, Lae to Port Moresby, Kimbe to Kokopo, Buka to Buin, Wewak to Vanimo, Madang to Wewak, Wabag to Sepik, Southern Highlands/Hela to Kikori Gulf, Lae to Finschafen/Kabwum, Kundiawa to Karamui, Tabubil to Telefomin, Hagen to Madang and Kundiawa -Bundi/Madang are being constructed.
“We also have over 100 small district and provincial roads we are funding for first-stage construction like Tari to Kopiago, Komo to Bosavi, Banz to Jimi, Namatanai to South New Ireland and Kokopo to Pomio.
“These are examples of connecting the forgotten people of our country into one nation, one people, one country,” the prime minister said.
“One country united by the economy, enabling infrastructure, and Papua New Guinea united – Pangu for short – where no one part of the country like Manus is left behind.”
Marape said he was visiting Manus to open the airport and help the region find success and prosperity in a unified Papua New Guinea.
He said, “Now that we have taken PNG back from hands and minds of corruption, misuse of people’s resources and uneven distribution of wealth, we all must now work to construct a better Manus and PNG for our children to live in.
“For Manus, this airport terminal must not be a waste but an asset for the country; this investment must repay the K101.9 million the government invested in it and generate more commerce and economic activity going forward. Manus is a strategic province – you are connected to Asia and the Pacific by air and sea.”
Marape added the Manus SEZ had been completed by Parliament, led by the Governor, Charlie Benjamin, and Job Pomat, the Open MP.
“Manus will be a special region where there will be no tax for companies operating here. We want agriculture, fisheries, forestry, manufacturing, tourism, banking, education, and health businesses to grow here,” the prime minister said.
“Lorengau International Airport will also receive international flights – a catalyst that will ensure that this special province grows into the place it rightfully deserves.”
Image caption: PM Marape with Manus Governor Hon. Charlie Benjamin (left), Civil Aviation Minister Hon. Walter Schnaubelt and Speaker and Manus MP Hon. Job Pomat at the new Momote International Airport in Lorengau.
