The European Union and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community have provided assistance to Amruqa – an exporting company in the East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea – for upgrading its virgin coconut oil processing facility. The upgraded facility will help improve efficiency and enable the company to produce up to ten tonnes of coconut oil per month for the export market. The assistance, worth around USD 70,000, has been facilitated through the

Dekenai Update: Dekenai have temporally opened the esplanade section past the SP Compound to the Stadium this week, to ease the  horrific traffic congestion in the industrial area. This will be closed later for proper line markings, road furniture and drainage works. Shorncliffe Update: Butibam Road: Section closed between Nestle and Able Computing for Pavement Preparation Works, Kerbing Section remains closed between Able Computing and Voco Point for Concrete Works All the traffic from China

ROAD CHECKS: Members must be aware that the Road Transport Council Inspectors are currently conducting road blocks in and around Lae, to check on vehicle registrations, licences and the roadworthiness of the vehicles etc. The LCCI commends the RTC for conducting this exercise, as we all sick and tired of seeing far too many vehicles on the road that should not be there. What I am referring to are those vehicles especially PMV buses that

Last week, Business Advantage News reported on several issues which the LCCI would like to provide further follow up to.  Government considers lift in minimum wage Last week, Business Advantage News reported that “Cabinet considers a rise in the minimum wage Papua New Guinea’s cabinet is reportedly considering a recommendation to increase the country’s minimum wage from K2.29 to K 3.20. The Post Courier reports that after 12 months the wage will then increase again to K3.36 an

TAXATION REVIEW On Wednesday afternoon Councillor Belinda Edwards officiated on behalf of the Lae Chamber of Commerce at a special session of the Taxation Review meeting Chaired by Sir Nagora Bogan CBE, for the Lae Chamber of Commerce members. Belinda said the meeting was good, particularly as it was a small group of 11 members who met the Committee. The attending Committee members included three previous Commissioner of Taxes being Sir Nagora Bogan, David Sode

DEKENAI UPDATE: The following update was received by the LCCI from Dave Howell, Commercial Manager of Dekenai Constructions. Dekenai Constructions Ltd has finished over 70% of Aircorps Road and we are on target to complete work within our contract period. We are aware of the inconvenience presently being experienced by businesses in the Lae Industrial Area. The situation has worsened recently with the closure of Mangola St. In an effort to ‘ease the pain’, Dekenai

VISA entry processes dominated the opening speeches at the Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum, with PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill saying the irritating process was “more difficult than ever before”.Addressing delegates at the event in Cairns, O’Neill described Australia as PNG’s closest neighbour and best friend, adding that minister to minister dialogue had never been stronger. However, he said there was one continuing irritant in the relationship.”It is an irritant that I know both business

Australian High Commissioner to PNG Deborah Stokes and Department of Immigration and Border Protection Offshore Detention and Returns Task Group first assistant secretary Ken Douglas led a briefing to update companies on the business opportunities available. Delegates at the Cairns event on Saturday heard the engagement of local businesses would increase as further subcontract and supplier packages were let by the managing contractor Decmil. Work is underway to expand and upgrade the Lombrum Regional Processing

Business Advantage PNG attended this week’s 30th Australia – Papua New Guinea Business Forum in Cairns. Here are some of our take-home observations from the annual event, which next year will take place in Lae, Morobe Province. 1. PNG is in demand That might go without saying, with Australian investment in PNG totalling around $15 billion (K39 billion), but in his opening address, PNG’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill made the point that the interest from