Three long serving employees of PNG Air have proudly spoken of their early days with the airline when it began operations in 1987.

They include acting CEO Stanley Stevens, Chief Commercial Officer, Simon Pitt and Lae Sales and Reservations Manager, Jennifer Ahab.

“We are pleased to be able to share this anniversary announcement today. The airline is pleased to have many long serving staff still with us and will be highlighting their stories throughout the year of celebrations,” said acting CEO Stevens.

In announcing the airline’s 35th year of service today, PNG Air announced a K35 reduction for all tickets bought starting from (today) March 30th to 8th April 2022 for travel between 25th April to 5th June 2022.

For Jennifer, she began her career with PNG Air as the first female load master some 25 years back before moving to Lae to manage the Nadzab Office in the year 2000.

“I have since been looking after the Lae Sales Team and I am proud to be an employee of PNG Air”, she said.

PNG Air commenced operations on 30th June 1987. It was registered as Milne Bay Airlines (MBA) by founder late Sir John Wild Snr. (Sir MBA).

In 2001 it changed its name to Airlines PNG and again in 2015 rebranded to PNG Air.

The airline has grown over the years with introduction of new air crafts like ATR 72-600 and expanded its services throughout Papua New Guinea.

Chief Commercial Officer, Simon Pitt said, to commemorate the airlines 35th anniversary, a logo for this specific occassion will set the bench mark for activities the airline company plans to do throughout the year.

“The logo is a representation of all the distinct elements of our livery represented through the Bird of Paradise,” said Mr. Pitt.

PNG Air customers are advised to use the promotion code ‘PNGAIR35’ when doing bookings.

This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the launch of the SP Lager brand. To commemorate this, SP Brewery designed a special logo for the brand.

Speaking at the official launch of the brand’s 70th anniversary earlier this week, SPB Managing Director, Ed Weggemans said the brand has journeyed with the nation marking many milestone occasions that have fostered the feeling of national pride and togetherness.

The anniversary logo will be incorporated into all of the brand’s activities in the market, including television advertising, radio, social media and billboards.

The anniversary launch saw Mr Weggemans, with four long serving staff, unveil SP Lager’s 70 Years commemorative logo, in the presence of local media and the company’s leadership team.

“This journey demonstrates how the brand has been able to withstand the test of time whilst remaining relevant in an evolving market. The brand continues to maintain the same great quality it was back then and is still the beer of choice we all come together to enjoy, regardless of status, region or gender,“ added Weggemans.

“As a registered PNG company SP Brewery through its SP Lager brand also played an important role in contributing to the PNG economy and the Government’s national purse”, said Weggemans.

SP Lager began its journey in 1952 as South Pacific Lager and began production on November 26th for the first time.

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Council is backing Lava Girl Label in its legal battle on copyright infringement allegations against Tropicana.

MSME Council President, Desmond Yaninen presented a cash donation of K5,000 that will be used as legal fees.

Mr. Yaninen said due to the lack of knowledge on copyright laws surrounding intellectual property, many MSME are prone to exploitations by larger organizations and companies.

“There needs to be greater awareness on how MSMEs’ can protect their intellectual property,” said Yaninen.

Lava Girl Creative Director, Annette Sete who also owns Maku Gift Shop received the cheque donation in Port Moresby wearing one of her designs.

Ms Sete is fighting a unique legal battle where the allegation stems from alleged theft of intellectual property of Lava Girl’s Tabu Wheel Design.

She said a precedence must be set so other Papua New Guineans will use this case to fight their own battles.

“It would be a success to take on the case and learn from it so other business owners are educated in this important area as well,” said Ms Sete.

The Lava Girl Label was also engaged in a similar battle with a designer in Lae and sorted the matter out of court.

City Pharmacy Group (CPL) has announced a K23million trading profit.

In a statement, CPL said the Group declares a full and final dividend of 4toea per share after recognizing a K23m trading profit.

This they said is a 15% increase in comparison to 2020, despite increased competition, substantial surges in the cost of purchases, freight costs and Covid-19.

Total Group sales were 0.3% lower than 2020, yet the business was able to exceed the prior year’s trading profit whilst maintaining the net gross profit margin in line with 2020.

From its subsidiaries, key brands City Pharmacy generated 12.3% revenue growth compared to 2020 and Hardware Haus successfully attained a 4.2% increase in revenue.

Supermarket brand, Stop & Shop reflected a decline in sales but continues to be the preferred shopping destination in Port Moresby.

Chairman of CPL Group, Stan Joyce said the Board remains confident that despite the operational challenges and future growth prospects, CPL Group remains positive and will continue to promote opportunities for sustainable business in our day to say operations and advocacy through the CPL Foundation.

Key highlights from 2021’s challenging year saw Mr Navin Raju promoted as Group CEO taking over from Sir Mahesh Patel.

Joyce said CPL Group brands will continue to be the preferred shopping destination by delivering, outstanding value and exceptional customer service for our communities, customers, suppliers, and team members and will keep focused on ensuring shareholder value as we venture into the next 12 months.

Sixty-two participants in Talasea District have completed a SME training in West New Britain.

The training was facilitated by Small to Medium Enterprises Corporation in partnership with Buvusi AOG Church.

Speaking during the closing SMEC Managing Director Petrus Ralda said the training is necessary for people to start or improve their business. He said people cannot continue to depend on Government systems to improve their livelihood.

“We are blessed with many opportunities but yet we do not make wise decisions”, said MD Ralda. He said the training is designed to evolve in this challenging business environment. Mr. Ralda echoed concerns of cultural obligations as a key factor in many businesses drowning.

“We can change this”, said Ralda. He urged participants to take initiative and be creative and innovative following this training.

“Discipline in business is very important for any individual to startup a business”, said MD Ralda.

The SME training was conducted in Kaibo outside Kimbe Town and other at Buvusi. 20 participants attended at Kaibo while 42 at Buvusi.

Late last year West New Britain did a ground breaking ceremony for a SME Incubation Centre to be built in Kimbe. This would see interested individuals to seek help to broaden their business or how to start a business.

The Incubation Centre is expected to be completed this year and opened for business.

SMEC also signed an agreement with the West New Britain Provincial under the Commerce Department.

Nasfund Board Chairman, Charles Vee has clarified the facts surrounding the daily newspaper’s headline dated 30th March 2022 with reference to the acquisition of 50% share in State Owned Entity Telikom Limited.

He says Nasfund is undertaking an Independent Due Diligence exercise of the offer at this point in time to ensure it satisfies the investment objectives and investment criteria of the Fund and no formal offer has been given to the Vendor as yet.

He added that the focus of discussions and consultation to date are situated around the determination of a fair transaction value of the newly proposed merged Telikom and B-Mobile businesses.

Vee said discussion around equity participation and governance framework required by Nasfund to make the proposition attractive, shall not happen until the “Due Diligence” process is completed.

Independent findings of the due diligence alongside Nasfund’s Licensed Investment Manager and Nasfund’s Investment Committee and Board of Nasfund as required under the Prudential Standards from the Central Bank of Papua New Guinea is still work in progress.

Chairman Vee highlighted that the fund is pleased to engage in Nation Building and this proposal provides that opportunity for the fund to make a positive contribution as an Institutional Investor.

However, the Fund has a robust investment process to follow and unless and until the fund gets to the end of that process; the newspaper article does not fully represent the Fund’s interest and position to participate in the transaction.