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POLICY SUPPORT FOR ZONES

BUSINESS

POLICY SUPPORT FOR ZONES

The Marape-Basil Government will provide policy support for Special Economic Zones in the country.

In a media release, Prime Minister James Marape made the commitment during his trip to Gulf’s Kikori District. More reading: https://www.thenational.com.pg/k100mil-for-kikoris-ihu-project/

PM Marape has given his assurance to the people of Ihu and three other districts earmarked for Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Prime Minister James Marape

He said his Government would support their establishment by providing stable policy support.

In addition, he said the current National Budget of the country was unable to fully support such big projects.

Therefore, he said, the Government would support it through policy directives that would enable private investors to invest in the project.

Government will help in ensuring that the policy environment and framework is there to support work in establishing Special Economic Zones. Ihu is setting the way forward for us to progress setting up SEZs in other areas in the country.

PM Marape.

IHU Special Economic Zone 

PM Marape believes that establishing the SEZ in Ihu as a pilot project was the right thing to do. Related reading: https://pngsun.com/2021/04/13/k100-million-announced-for-highway/

This is, because of resource development projects that are already there.

These include forestry and fisheries, and others that are coming up like Papua LNG and P’nyang, in the district.

Further, he said the SEZ would not only generate employment. They will create an environment for or people to start up and grow their own small businesses as well.

Furthermore, he thanked the team that worked together with the Kikori District team to make it possible to move on to Phase two of the project.

The Ihu SEZ first came into public scrutiny when they presented a presentation of the concept. The presentation was during the 2018 Asia APEC Leaders’ meeting in Port Moresby.

Kikori DDA initiated phase One of the ISEZ with a policy submission to the National Executive Council. It’s intention was to seek approval and initial funding support for Phase two.

The second phase will involve land mobilisation, clan mapping and environmental impact assessment.

PM launched the second Phase last month.

When Phase two is successfully completed, Conservation and Environment Protection Authority will issue environmental permit for the project team. This will enable the team to go into construction of access roads and other infrastructure developments.

Local member, Soroi Eoe said the Ihu SEZ – once the infrastructure was built – investors would come in to do business, creating over 200,000 jobs.

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