Photo Credit: PNGI Central
The Madang Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has proposed a joint venture between the private sector and the government to build the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) project in Madang.
Kevin Murray, president of the Chamber, believes the project will be unlikely to be funded entirely by the government.
In the 2022 National Budget, the government set aside K100 million for the project, with an expected total cost of K1.2 billion by the end of 2025.
“The PMIZ project has been on and off for about 10 years,” Murray told The National.
“If it does go ahead like promised, it will be a major development for Madang.
“It has been promised a number of times in the past and I can’t predict what is actually going to happen. We are all hoping that it’s going to go ahead.
“It more than likely should be a joint venture by the corporate sector and government.
“I don’t (think) the Government is going to fund it and frankly, companies who are going to build their business within the PMIZ are obviously going to bear the cost of building their own infrastructure.
“The Government can help by providing roads and other infrastructure for commercial activities.
“Companies themselves should be able to build their own factories or production facilities for the PMIZ.
“The Government should play its part by making sure that there are proper roads, water is provided and there is electricity.”
Reference: The National (10 January 2022). “Official suggests PMIZ project be co-funded”.
