Pngcci

08/09/2022

25/07/2022

PNGCCI condemns the violence and unrest in POM and other provinces in Election 2022

PNGCCI condemns in the strongest possible terms the violence that has broken out in NCD and holding innocent residents and business houses to ransom.

City residents do not feel safe to move around, workers, working parents and school children have chosen to stay home today for security, safety reasons.

This should not be happening in the nation’s capital where seat of government is located, where we have the full complement of our Police and Defence personnel based. Containment and defusing of this security situation must happen now. If we have to impose a curfew to limit movement, so be it. Or if the military is required to step in to assist Police, to bring order to the city, so be it. The city cannot be held to ransom by a handful of thugs with no respect for fellow citizens and rule of law.

It should also not be happening in other Provinces where such unrest and unrulyness is at play.

The international community are observing happenings with keen interest. What is happening at the moment is not the type of image and messaging we want to portray of our country as a safe and conductive environment for investment. We must stop this madness immediately..!!

Ian Tarutia, OBE | President | Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce

08/02/2022

PNG CCI does not condone the inconsiderate and blatant act of sabotage on vital State power and telecommunication assets. We demand that the perpetrators be arrested to face the full force of the law.

Power is an essential service for everyone in modern day Papua New Guinea. We all depend on its availability and reliability to live comfortably and work productively. This disruption just adds to the cost of resorting to alternative back up power for business houses and other vital state services.
Further the disruption to telecommunication services because of shared arrangements with PPL is also an inconvenience to business and retail customers.

Our people must learn to address conflict respectfully and without resorting to violence and destruction of public property. We sympathize with PNG Power and PNG Dataco as they bear the cost of remediation and restoration of power and telecommunication services in the central highlands areas. We understand this is close to K 1 million and a unnecessary expense that could have been better spent increasing access to new power and telecommunication services.

We hope our Police are attending to this as a matter of urgency.

29/04/2021

MEDIA RELEASE from PNGCCI

Covid-19 vaccination program must proceed: PNGCCI

Port Moresby, 29 April 2021

The PNG Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PNGCCI) is gravely concerned about the slow uptake of the Covid-19 vaccines. PNGCCI is the parent body of 17 Provincial Commerce and industry bodies and speaks as one voice.

PNGCCI President Ian Tarutia said in a media statement today the vaccination program, which began last month after the arrival of the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines from Australia, had somewhat lost momentum.

Mr Tarutia said: “We are aware the The slow uptake of the vaccines is may be due to widespread fear among Papua New Guineans about the AstraZeneca vaccine. With so much inaccurate information being circulated through the social media, it’s hardly surprising that our people are fearful of this particular vaccine. And it doesn’t help matters when our health professionals are also divided over the uptake of the vaccines.

“However, Prime Minister James Marape was one of the first to be vaccinated and our people must take comfort and confidence in his fine example. Hence, the Government’s vaccination program must proceed as planned so that our frontline health workers and others are fully protected.”

He said while it was encouraging to note that 8,300 people (out of 10,600 positive cases) had recovered so far, the number of positive cases was still climbing.

“There is still no cure for Covid-19 and vaccines are our best protection against the spread of this deadly virus. What is the Government’s next best alternative if the vaccination program is further delayed or halted?

Mr Tarutia said the PNGCCI was gravely concerned about the economic impacts if the transmission was not slowed down.

He added that the business sector had been hit hard by the pandemic despite the Government’s purported K5.6 billion rescue package.

“The business sector has seen the demise of a prominent construction company, Nawae Constructions, which went into liquidation early this year because of the economic impact of the pandemic. Another major business, Lae Biscuit Company, is facing a similar dilemma. Moreover, our members are losing millions of kina in revenue due to the current restrictions and closure of certain business operations. And yet there is no lifeline from the Government to haul us out of this economic and financial nightmare.”

Mr Tarutia reiterated that with the recent increase in positive cases, PNGCCI and other peak bodies representing business, the private sector and development partners continued to urge their members to take the lead in promoting and implementing the necessary Covid-19 prevention protocols.

He said PNGCCI also acknowledged efforts taken by the Government to contain the spread of Covid-19 and was ready to assist as partners in this challenge.

IAN TARUTIA
President
PNGCCI

12/04/2021

There is a lot of talk, fear and fake news about Covid-19

This post from Justin Olam is just reinforcing his belief on the Testing and Vaccination Program

You might agree
You might not

All he is saying is "Think about it" and don't believe everything you read, see or hear ...
We are rational, sensible PNG people and Covid-19 is here to stay for a long time, everywhere in the world so let's make decisions that protect our elderly and sick

Oh, feel free to express your opinions but any bad or foul language and you will be banned from the site.

We respect all views and opinions

02/03/2021

TRIBUTE TO GRAND CHIEF SIR MICHAEL SOMARE

Grand Chief, First Prime Minister and founding Father of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael T. Somare was a man well ahead of his time. The dream to become independent, politically and economically were manifested in his Eight Point Plan put together in early 1972 when he was Chief Minister which stated the following:

1. A greater proportion of the economy to be under the control of Papua New Guinean individuals and groups;

2. More equal distribution of economic benefits, including movement toward equalisation of incomes amongst people and toward equalisation of services amongst different areas of the country;

3. Decentralisation of economic activity, planning and government spending, with emphasis on agricultural development, village industry, better internal trade, and more spending channelled to local and area bodies;

4. An emphasis on small scale artisan, service and business activity, relying where possible on typical Papua New Guinean forms of business activity;

5. A more self-reliant economy, with less dependent for its needs on imported goods and services and better able to meet the needs of its people through local production;

6. An increasing capacity for meeting government spending needs from locally raised revenue;

7. A rapid increase in the equal and active participation of women in all forms of economic and social activity;

8. Government control and involvement in those sectors of the economy where control is necessary to achieve the desired kind of development.

Consequently this Eight Point Plan was incorporated into the five National Goals and Directive Principles which was included in the preamble of our country’s constitution when PNG attained Independence in 1975.

The establishment and role of the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce & Industry to serve as the Voice of PNG Business augmented Sir Michael’s plan to see Papua New Guinea prosper through commerce and industry activities that were aligned with Government’s political economic and social agenda. These aspirations remain relevant today as it was envisaged in the early 70s.

PNG Chamber of Commerce & Industry on behalf of all its provincial members and affiliates joins the nation in mourning a true visionary. We thank Sir Michael Thomas Somare for his leadership and dedicated service to Papua New Guinea until his last breath.

We thank Lady Veronica, Bertha, Sana, Arthur, Dulcie, Michael (Jr), and all the bubus for sharing Sir Michael’s life with all of us and the rest of the world.

REST IN ETERNAL PEACE OUR GRAND CHIEF, SIR MICHAEL T. SOMARE.

Ian Tarutia
President
On behalf of the Provincial Chamber Members of PNG

27/01/2021

Room to grow: President of Lae Chamber of Commerce sees opportunities but investment and education are essential
27 Jan 2021 by David James - Business Advantage PNG

John Byrne, President of the Lae Chamber of Commerce, expects Papua New Guinea’s economy in 2021 to be similar to 2020. He tells Business Advantage PNG that, although there is an underlying level of confidence in PNG’s second city, infrastructure projects and investment are urgently needed.

Business Advantage PNG (BAPNG): What do you think is the economic outlook for 2021?
John Byrne (JB): I can’t see the year being a lot different to last year in terms of the COVID-19 impact, the [Porgera] mining shut-down impact and the political challenges. That affects foreign exchange and foreign investment.

BAPNG: How do you assess what is happening with Newcrest’s proposed Wafi Golpu project?
JB: Recently, Sam Basil, the Deputy Prime Minister, said three times in a speech that the process would start again in the middle of the year. The whole thing will likely take two years to get fired up, however the confidence in that statement about the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) and the MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) will also generate confidence in the community.

In Lae, we are not lacking confidence. We are out there doing our own businesses. But the country needs some infrastructure projects, which educate our people, employ our people and do all the things to get them off the streets, right down to that social micro level. Businesses, in particular those directly or indirectly involved in major resource projects, are waiting to see what happens with the Mining Act for investment – locally or otherwise – as they look to negotiate with government.

‘A new Nadzab Airport is a game changer as long as we have a highway attached to it that isn’t a dirt track.’

We hope for a resolution on the re-opening, in any form, of Porgera, which appears a long way from being solved. We look to our government and leaders to drive decisions with businesses that enable our people and communities to have a better future. Major resource projects employ, educate and provide a better quality of life, for many of our wonderful citizens.

BAPNG: How is the upgrading of Lae’s Nadzab airport going?

JB: The airport development is well under way. We at the Chamber have a high level of confidence that the project will be completed in 2022. The Japanese, when they win these projects, they just get it done using a lot of local content.

A new Nadzab Airport is a game changer, as long as we have a highway attached to it that isn’t a dirt track. The future is to have direct international flights (whether we get them straight away or not – with what is going around the world at the moment who is going to fly out to Lae?). But I have a high degree of confidence it is on track and the world will not be in a COVID-freeze forever.

BAPNG: The Prime Minister has emphasised the need for PNG to exploit its potential for agriculture. How feasible is that?

JB: I agree with him. But to develop agriculture requires a long-term strategy and the economy turning at the same time. So we need the resources projects – we are resource-rich but we don’t have the education of our people to do it yet, we don’t have the infrastructure, we don’t have the roads, we don’t have the refrigerators or the cool sheds to store our produce and export it, even domestically.

I commend the Government’s revitalised SMEs initiative, but education is critical to get a better and more robust SME and PNG-owned future. Traditionally, we are not long-term thinkers. Culturally, many eat or spend what they grow today and don’t plan for tomorrow. There needs to be sustained, proper, local content training.

BAPNG: There are many calls for government to pay its arrears. How important is that?
JB: Too many businesses are being crippled by government arrears and it is running right down the chain. There is a lot of noise saying they are fixing it, with the best of intent, but the outstanding debt is building. There are no Lae businesses that have gone down due to the lack of funding, but a lot are under pressure because the banks need to see positive cash-flow. There are businesses that have been waiting up to 18 months for payment. They are struggling and living hand-to-mouth to keep their staff employed

‘There are many examples of government and business working together and there is a willingness by both parties to truly develop and improve PNG.’

BAPNG: How has COVID-19 affected the expat labour situation?

JB: People who have been expats for a long time are saying: ‘I can’t do this any more. I can’t be away from my family for 12 or 18 months. I am just going to pack up and go.’ This creates a lot of opportunity for our local talent to shine and develop but, once again, only the businesses that have trained and developed will grow in this period with local leadership.

I always believe a blend of culture and background makes any economy or business grow. Fresh ideas, new ideas and leadership makes for a better future, and encourages our business leaders and governments to embrace training and development projects. We will likely see less expats.

BAPNG: Are you optimistic?
JB: None of the above is negative; there are many examples of government and business working together and there is a willingness by both parties to truly develop and improve PNG. Will we make mistakes? Sure. But it is what we learn, and how we are prepared to change our habits and work together for a better future, that will make PNG shine on the global stage.

20/12/2020

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
As we look back over 2020, we acknowledge the highs and lows of a very challenging year.
We operated within a struggling economy, laden with debt, rising unemployment, lack of
forex, unreliable telecommunication, power services and law and order issues to highlight a few.

• The arrival of COVID 19 against a weak health care system only exacerbated the
problems of 2020.

• The roll out of key resource project in the extractive sector, Papua LNG, Pynang, Wafi Golpu unfortunately did not eventuate as expected.

• Likewise, the closure of the Porgera Mine, was not foreseen to happen. The impacts of missed opportunities is obvious. The country will bear economic and social pain for a while yet.

• If this was not enough, the country had to endure a 4 week political impasse as our elected parliamentarians disputed the leadership mandate of our country. Fortunately, Parliament has resolved the matter and we acknowledge Honourable James Marape remains PrimeMinister of Papua New Guinea.

On the bright side, we further acknowledge the resilience and tenacity of the business
community to keep operating, keeping doors open and retaining its workforce albeit in
reduced numbers.
The Chamber commends the business community for its resolve to adapt and survive.

On this note, the Chamber will continue to highlight issues for public and government attention that have an adverse impact on business throughout the country.

Internally, the Chamber has just conducted its Annual General Meeting and new executives
have been elected. A notable highlight was the return of POM CCI into the PNG Chamber
membership registry as well the creation of 3 Vice Presidents representing the main regions
(NGI, Highlands, Momase, Southern) as part of the PNGCCI Executive.

Additionally the PNG
Women Chamber of Commerce have a seat on the Board. To this end, the Chamber pays
tribute to former President John Leahy for his role in leading these significant changes.

Look ahead in 2021 the PNG Chamber will continue to enhance its mandate as the Voice of PNG Business and maintain dialogue with other peak bodies and Government on matters of national concern.

There are still a host of issues that need to be addressed and the Chamber looks forward to playing its part in finding solutions to improve the lives of our people and businesses.

The Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce and Industry takes the opportunity to wish its members, the Government, business sector as a whole and people of Papua New Guinea a Joyous Christmas and best wishes for a prosperous New Year.

Ian Tarutia, OBE
President

11/12/2020

PNGCCI PRESS STATEMENT

KINA acquisition of Westpac Bank

Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PNGCCI) acknowledges the public announcement of Westpac’s sale of its Fiji and PNG banking business to Kina Bank. A statement released by Westpac in Media & Investor relations unit in Australia says completion of the transaction is subject to various regulatory approvals in Fiji and PNG, including shareholder consent. The timeline for this to happen is the second half of 2021.

PNGCCI is also aware other PNG financial institutions including, superannuation funds were also interested in acquiring Westpac, but it appears a decision to sell to Kina Bank has already been made.

PNGCCI said “Kina Bank as the successful bidder have the opportunity to build from where Westpac will leave off, once they exit PNG. Kina’ strategy has been to strengthen its retail banking footprint and follows from the successful acquisition of the ANZ Retail business two years ago. Once the deal is settled, we hope Kina will give its customers, especially business houses convenient access to credit at competitive interest rates. We also want Kina to address the issue of Forex if it is able to. We also want more favourable lending conditions for our businesses, SMEs and MSMES so they are able to grow and be sustainable. The attitude of foreign banks to local businesses in recent times has been poor and lacking empathy.”

“It is encouraging to see another PNG based entity take over an international brand like Westpac and hopefully turn it into another PNG success story”.

07/12/2020

The Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce and Industry elected its new executives at the Chambers Annual General Meeting held at the Lamana Hotel on Friday 4th December
2020. New executives voted into office are;
President – Ian Tarutia
Vice President Momase & Highlands - John Byrne
Vice President Southern – Jeff Abel
Vice President Islands – David Stein
Secretary- Phil Franklin
Board Appointment Coordinator – Michael Henao
Regional Coordinator- Peter Del Monte
International Affiliations- Chey Scovell.

The election was preceded by a special general meeting in which amendments were passed to allow new positions of regional Vice Presidents to be a part of a revised executive structure.

Additionally, the President of the Papua New Guinea Women’s
Chamber of Commerce Industry is also a part of the executive.

Mr Tarutia in welcoming the new executives, thanked the outgoing President. John Leahy
for his stewardship of the PNGCCI and specifically acknowledged Mr Leahy’s role in reconciling with Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce ; Industry (POMCCI) to the PNG Chamber of Commerce & Industry membership roll.

Mr Tarutia said that the new executives were a blend of experience and youth and very capable individuals. An immediate 100 day plan for his new team would be to focus on building the profile of the Chamber, engaging more with key peak bodies and stakeholders
on matters of mutual interest, advocating for its provincial members and adequately resourcing its secretariat.