Inside PNG

International Trade and Investment Minister, Richard Maru, has described his recent ventures overseas as very successful after meeting potential investors in Japan, Singapore and the Philippines.

In Japan, Minister Maru met with Dr Shoichi Kobayashi, the CEO and Chairman of Japan Development Institute (JDI), one of Japan’s biggest industrial development agencies.

JDI has helped developed Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in 70 countries, including China, Indonesia and the Philippines and has shown interest in developing an SEZ Master Plan for PNG.

“All over the world, SEZ developments have either failed or have been very successful,”

“So, getting the expertise of JDI at the infant stages of our SEZ developments is very critical to ensure we develop our planned SEZs,” Minister Maru said.

A team from JDI is expected to arrive by the end of the month for a 10-day trip around the country to begin work on the proposed Master Plan.

Minister Maru also met with Singapore’s Trade and Industry Minister Kim Yong Gan where they discussed the possibilities of creating PNG’s 1^st ever Trade Agreement with Singapore. A proposed Trade Fair was also in discussion.

“We want the ASEAN member states to be the heart and soul of our future in terms of trade and investment because Asia is where the growth and future I and we need to be located right in the heart of Asia, which is Singapore,” Minister Maru said.

In the Philippines, Minister Maru met with Alfredo Pascal, the Secretary for the Department of Trade and Industry. Creating a formalized trade link between the two countries was discussed.

Downstream processing and commercial rice farming were also discussed with Minister Maru meeting three potential large-scale rice farming companies.

“PNG needs to identify up to 90,000 hectares of land to grow rice in order to produce the rice to feed our own population and to export the surplus back to the Philippines,”

“We will be working very closely with the Central Province Governor to assist us in identifying land in Central Province to grow rice on a large scale,” Maru said.

Talks on supplying LNG to the Philippines and downstream processing of crude coconut oil were also discussed.

“All in all, Japan, Singapore and the Philippines are ready to step up in their relationships with us in terms of trade and investment. Our plans to establish Trade Missions in these countries will go a long way in enhancing this relationship,” Minister Maru said.

Rugby League

Tepend Clears Air on Segeyaro

Kumuls Coach Stanley Tepend has cleared the air on rejected Kumuls Hooker James Segeyaro saying the reason for him missing out on selection was based on the current form of players that can cover the hooker and utility position in the 24-man squad.

Tepend said it is important for the Kumuls to build a winning combination from the Pacific Test and it was important to pick the best team for the World Cup.

“We can only pick limited players in certain positions,”

“As a team, I think we’ve picked the best that we can considering the factors, injuries and all those sorts of stuff,” Tepend said.

A dejected Segeyaro took to social media last week after Tepend told him he would not be part of the Kumuls World Cup campaign.

“I felt like I had done enough to make the side. Fighting back into an NRL system, being fortunate enough to play for Manly this year alongside some of the best in the game and spend the full season playing my heart out for Blackdown,” Segeyaro said in an Instagram post.

PNG fans also took to social media, calling on the PNGRFL to reconsider the decision on Segeyaro saying his experience is what the Kumuls need for the tournament.

This is not the first controversial selection case for Segeyaro. In 2015, Segeyaro said in a TV interview that he would never play for the Kumuls again after he claimed his father, the late Iffysoe Segeyaro was not given the respect he deserved from PNG Rugby League.

However, he would make amends and won back the support from PNG when he starred in the 2017 World Cup. Since then, off-field incidents have kept him out of the NRL until this year when he was called in to play for Manly in Round 20.

Coach Tepend says there will always be respect for James Segeyaro and what he has done for the Kumuls jersey, adding Segeyaro will be considered for future representative duties.

“We haven’t closed the door on James for future games,”

“We respect him and what he’s done for Kumuls in the past,” Tepend said.

Meanwhile, Betfred Champions Player of the Year, Edwin Ipape, is expected to wear the number 9 jersey when the Kumuls take on 2nd placed Tonga on the 19th.

Ipape finished off a wonderful season, helping his team to a victory in the Betfred Champions Grand-Final and securing a spot in the Super League.

Hunters Hooker Wesser Tenza on the other hand has been consistent in the Hostplus Cup for the PNG Hunters, however, Watson Boas will most likely fill the utility role.

“It sucks, I’m disappointed – gutted actually. But I’m still going to be cheering for the boys from home nonetheless,” Segeyaro said.

Rugby League

Kumuls World Cup Squad Announced

Kumuls Coach Stanley Tepend has named his 24-man squad to travel to the United Kingdom this Friday ahead of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.

The 24-man squad has 7 players from the 2017 World Cup, who will add the needed experience when PNG takes on Tonga, who is currently ranked 2^nd in the Rugby League World.

Coach Tepend says confidence is high heading into the World Cup because of the in-form players they have on the roster.

Alex Johnston is a certain start at fullback with high-flying Xavier Coats and speed man Jimmy Ngutlik on the wings. The centre pairing of Justin Olam and Nene McDonald will be a strike weapon for the Kumuls.

Following the success of the Pacific Test, Coach Tepend will likely stick to Lachlan Lam and Kyle Laybutt to steer the attack with Watson Boas as the backup. Edwin Ipape and Wesser Tenza will share the dummy-half duties while Dan Russel, Nixon Putt, McKenzie Yei and Wellington Albert to lead the forward pack.

With the Australian-based players arriving last Saturday in Port Moresby, the team will link up with the UK-based players before their opening pool match on the 19^th.

Rhyse Martin is likely to be named Captain.

The 24-Man PNG Kumuls Squad;

Wellington Albert (London Broncos)

Jacob Alick (Gold Coast Titans)

Kevin Appo (PNG Hunters)

Watson Boas (Doncaster)

Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm)

Edene Gebbie (Townsville Blackhawks)

Edwin Ipape (Leigh Centurions)

Zev John (CQ Capras)

Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Lachlan Lam (Leigh Centurions)

Kyle Laybutt (Townsville Blackhawks)

Nene McDonald (Leigh Centurions)

Rhyse Martin (Leeds Rhinos)

Sylvester Namo (PNG Hunters)

Jimmy Ngutlik (Western Suburbs Magpies)

Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm)

Nixon Putt (CQ Capras)

Daniel Russel (Brisbane Tigers)

Jeremiah Simbiken (Redcliffe Dolphins)

Rodrick Tai (PNG Hunters)

Sherwin Tanabi (PNG Hunters)

Wesser Tenza (PNG Hunters)

Emmanuel Waine (PNG Hunters)

McKenzie Yei (CQ Capras)

Business

Tari-Pori District Invests K1mil for Women in Business

Women in Business is a focus for the Tari-Pori District in the next 5 years.

Taking steps to help women in the district, the Tari-Pori DDA presented K1million to the Women’s Micro Bank in Port Moresby recently.

DDA CEO Willie Kara said the district focused mainly on Health, Education and Infrastructure, however for this year, local Member and Prime Minister James Marape opted for Women in Business as a priority.

“Our DSIP is broken into 9 main sectors – health, education and infrastructure development are our main sectors. For this year, we want to see women in business, and this program will help us see if our women can venture into business,” Kara said.

The Women’s Micro Bank since its establishment has been helping women in the country in business. They’ve partnered with 5 Districts and 1 Provincial Government to bring about training for women who want to venture into the SME space as well as providing the financial means for women to start their own businesses.

“The Bank is women orientated. We want to create financial inclusion for our women. The Bank is here to create that conducive environment for women to grow their businesses,” Bank CEO Gunanidhi Das said.

The K1million funding will be used for training programs as well as capital for women groups in Tari-Pori to use.

News

Attack on Journalists Condemned

By Inside PNG 30/09/2022

The Media Council of PNG (MCPNG) has condemned an attack by the supporters of a former politician in the precincts of the National Courts at Waigani yesterday.

While the MCPNG understands that the employers of the journalist who was the target of the attack have filed an official complaint with the police, it is deeply disappointed by this primitive act of violence against a messenger of the news.

“The media, and journalists, are not beholden to any individual, regardless of their standing or reputations as members of parliament,” says MCPNG President, Neville Choi.

“If you are in a position of public service, and your conduct, regardless of whether it was private or public, sees you answering to a court of law, in a publicly-accessed hearing, you must expect that your public standing will attract scrutiny,” says MCPNG President Neville Choi.

The MCPNG President says too often Papua New Guineans in positions of power and public authority, use those positions to avoid or assert blame on the messenger, rather than acknowledge their own shortcomings.

“If leaders, past or present, feel that they have been wronged in any way by the media, there are laws that they can utilize to seek redress. To resort to violence, whether directly or indirectly, only displays why they do not deserve to be called leaders,” Mr Choi said.

Education

Electronic Library for CHW School

By Inside PNG 30/09/2022

Rumginae School of Community Health Workers (CHW), in Western Province, recently celebrated the opening of its new E-library facility.

It was completed at the cost of K73 000, co-funded by Vega Industries, an Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) supplier, and Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF).

The interactive e-library has over 30 million resource materials that will benefit the students and staff.

School Principal Amos Kupaloma in his remarks, said the shortage of community health workers and access to health services has always been a challenge for Western Province.

“We are trying to raise the standards of health facilities, and the school’s aim is to prepare more Community Health Workers to serve in these health facilities,” Kupaloma said.

The Principal said training competent CHWs with the vital skills and knowledge, will contribute to quality and cost-effective Primary Health Care services to rural and urban communities, thus fulfilling the PNG government’s National Health Plan.

He was grateful to the school’s Board of Directors, and development partners who have contributed to having this facility completed.

OTML Board Chairman Dr Roger Higgins, who was the guest of honour, was pleased that developments were taking shape in rural areas, and the school is using technology to enhance teaching and learning.

“I commend the school administration for bringing the CHW School this far, since its inception in 1976, and the current development will be valuable in teaching and training future professionals in medicine,” said Dr Higgins.

Dr Higgins encouraged the school to look after the facility and make good use of it.

The new E-library is part of its capacity building, to enable the CHW training school to become a Nursing College.

The school intends to commence its Nursing Diploma program in 2023.

Foreign Trade

Strengthening Ties with Japan

Prime Minister James Marape met with the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, before attending the state funeral of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

PM Marape was accompanied by International Trade and Investment Minister, Richard Maru and East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird.

“Today was just a short, one-day visit to Japan for me, but very important in consolidating relations between our two countries,”

“There are 191 world leaders here today to attend the State Funeral of the late Shinzo Abe, and for PNG to have been accorded the honour of meeting Japanese Prime Minister Kishida is very special,” the PM said.

The Prime Minister also met with executives of Japan’s major energy companies with discussions centred around the LNG project and downstream processing which the Government is pushing for PNG to be more active in.

“Prime Minister Kishida, during our discussions, highlighted Japan’s need for energy security as well as the need for trade between our two countries to grow.”

Japan through its JX Nippon Oil and Gas Company is a joint venture with Nippon PNG LNG, which has interests in the PNG LNG Project. Since the 1st shipment, PNG has supplied approximately a 7.9million tonnes of liquefied natural gas every year to the world market, and Japan is one country that PNG supplies.

Japan is also involved in other major projects like the K692million Nadzab Airport Redevelopment Project which is currently in its construction phase. The project is captured under Japan’s Economic Corporation program which aims to improve PNG’s economy and broaden internationalization.

“Prime Minister Kishida highlighted the fact that PNG is an important bilateral partner of Japan,” said Marape.

Prime Minister Marape concluded his meeting by assuring the Japanese Prime Minister that outstanding trade treaties between the two countries will resume and PNG will continue to assist Japan where necessary, especially in its energy security needs.

The Prime Minister left for the United States where he will attend the Pacific Islands Summit in Washington DC.

Prime Minister James Marape and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their meeting this morning in Tokyo. Picture by PM’s Department

News

PNG Sports Media Ready To Assist Solomon Islands in 2023

Papua New Guinea Sports Media Association (PNGSMA) is prepared to assist the Solomon Islands with its Media & Communications Plan for the 2023 Pacific Games.

PNG SMA President Peter Sevara Jr said the onus is on PNG to ensure the “Happy Isles” obtain the best from their aspirations.

“Both countries continue to benefit from Government to Government relations over the years and it is no different this time around.”

“While Team PNG will also come to compete, the onus is on PNG to ensure their experiences of hosting big games will come in handy to assist the Solomon Islands to achieve a successful outcome,” Sevara said.

The President and PNGSMA Secretary Isaac Liri are both attending the Pacific Sports Media Dialogue in Honiara in conjunction with the 6th Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Media Summit from the 26th to the 30th of this month.

The Pacific Sports Media dialogue hosted by the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) has been assisting PNG and four other Pacific Islands to set up its Sports Journalist Association over the past five years.

“Collaboration throughout the Pacific region is what we need and I believe we have enough capacity to reach out to our brothers and sisters to offer them a hand in building their preparedness.”

“We are only as good as those around us so in true Pacific fashion let’s support each other because we understand each other more,” Sevara added.

Sevara said the current Melanesian Spearhead Group Prime Ministers Cup hosted in Vanuatu is an example of the region coming together to build awareness of our capacity and foster mutual relationships.

The meet was graced by Koroi Hawkins, a part Solomon Islander and Fijian who was employed by Radio New Zealand International straight out of Solomon Islands.

Hawkins shared that news from our region has always been negative but said sports reporters in the pacific can change that.

He added that the opportunity to use their sport writing skills to change negative perceptions of our region lies on their shoulders because, in world news, pacific sports news travels faster and further throughout the world than any other news genre.

News

Safety and Heights Training

The Training Department at Ramu NiCo Management Limited’s, Basamuk Refinery has continued its training schedules for employees with a focus on new employees who have no experience in working at certain heights and its safety measures.

Health Safety and Environment Trainer Maria Poha said the training conducted was to introduce these safety measures to the new employees.

“The training is focused on three-point contact when climbing, once on elevated platforms, they must remember to hook on when using the safety harness as well as how to use the elevated work platform’s equipment,” Poha said.

The training began with a theory component and finished with the practical component.

Trainee Dagau Sokar said the training will enable them to work safely at different heights in their respective departments and it also shows what is expected of them when they are out on the field.

Another training like the Permit to Work System and Work and Job Safety Analysis was also conducted.

These will enable the workers to analyze any work-related hazards and come up with better safety measures.

This training is compulsory under the Mining Act, including the Safety and Regulatory Operations of the mine.

Employees at the Basamuk Refinery after the Safety Training. Picture by Ramu NiCo Media

News

MSG PM’s Cup Vital For a United Melanesia

Sport is a vital tool for development and when it is driven strategically encompassing as many values as possible the impact it has on a region or globally can be quite profound.

The Melanesian Spearhead Group Prime Ministers Cup presently hosted in Vanuatu aims to enhance bilateral agreements and partnerships for the Melanesian people.

PNG Sports Foundation Executive Director Albert Veratau is adamant that Sport can act as a tool for change by uniting our people.

Veratau is in Vanuatu after facilitating PNG participation in the revived competition through collaborative efforts from various Government partners.

“Melanesian people alone make up over 50% of the population in the Pacific region. These are the people from the five countries in PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia including the regions in West Papua, the Torres Strait Islanders and the Australian Aboriginals.”

“Together we will have an impact on the global stage but we need strategic and necessary decisions to unite our sub-region,” Veratau said.

Melanesian countries are already making an impact in sports like Rugby Union, Beach Volleyball, Soccer, Rugby League and Futsal with its people among the stars of high-level competitions like NRL in Australia, Super League in England, and Super Rugby in the Southern Hemisphere.

PNG alone with over 8 million population has taken the necessary steps to initiate talks for the revival of the Melanesian Cup through the MSG Sports Secretariat through former chairman John Susuve, a senior officer of the PNG Sports Foundation.

Now a FIFA-sanctioned event that will in future include a women’s edition, plans are mooted to bring other sports into the fold.

“This is the best in Melanesia and the Pacific coming together to enhance their skills and showcasing some amazing talents.”

“The more we come together to celebrate our skills there lies the more opportunities for strengthening ties and developing collaborative programs for improved outcomes.”

“Conversations on development goals must be had sooner rather than later to define our role in the Pacific and Oceania region,” said Susuve.