Transcript
The government is giving few details away about how the special economic zone around the PMIZ will work.
But companies operating in the zone would likely get tax breaks
The concept itself, to establish up to ten canneries and other port facilities on the Madang Lagoon, has been delayed for almost fifteen years due to legal, environmental and landowner issues.
The minister of commerce and industry, Wera Mori, says the project is nearly ready to go,
"We will be going to China, the prime minister will be going to further the discussions on that. we’ve already submitted the 156-million drawdown to build the two wharves - both the fishing and the container wharves - and we can start work on PMIZ."
Mr Mori - who says the government wants to diversify and focus more on manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries - is just one of a number of ministers who have pushed the PMIZ project in recent years.
However, the Governor of Madang province, Peter Yama, has voiced concern that the PMIZ is being driven too much from Port Moresby, rather than in his province.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill recently indicated that management of the project would be transferred to Madang province.
Mr Yama says he welcomed that decision, but is frustrated that licenses have already been issued for companies to operate in the PMIZ.
"I don't know. The minister gave it to certain people down in Port Moresby. So, you know, before it even starts, it's not great. And I will have to check those license."
A local lawyer, Ramsey Pariwa, says the issue of who manages the project is not settled.
He says the Department of Commerce and Industry appears unlikely to relinquish management of the PMIZ until it is confident that the Madang provincial government has the capacity to run it.
Mr Pariwa says beyond this there are two big outstanding issues.
One is the question of what happened to previous loans the government took out to develop the project.
Mr Pariwa says another big problem is the planned use of land that various communities have lived on for many years.
According to him, if these questions aren’t addressed to the community's satisfaction, they could block the PMIZ from operating.
Despite the concerns, the Madang governor is upbeat that the PMIZ will bring significant benefits
However few people in Madang are holding their breath that the PMIZ will begin, because optimism from local leaders hasn't translated into much action in the past.
The signs of disharmony between national and provincial leaders on how the PMIZ is taking shape only adds to this.
