There is now a new internet payment platform developed by Kina Bank to make payment of bills, mobile phone credit top- ups and electricity credit recharges easier for the people. The ecommerce payment platform called “Pei Beta” is a product of the Kina Bank and is now available on the internet for people to register and enjoy the services that it offers. Speaking at the launching of the Pei Beta payment platform this morning in Port Moresby, Kina Bank Country Head Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Lesieli Taviri, said that the new payment platform is pretty much a free of charge service and is available to even people who bank with the other commercial banks. “It’s an opportunity for us to offer our fee free services to customers outside of Kina Bank, so you don’t have to have a Kina Bank account or Kina issued card to be able to top up your mobile phones or pay for your easy pay,” said Ms. Taviri “It is available to all customers, all they need to do is to create their account, activate account and they will have access to their services.” She said the current services available on the platform include mobile top- up, PNG Power easipay and bills payments; however, she said that they will be adding a couple more new services and features to the payment platform going forward. Ms. Taviri further explained that the Pei Beta platform can also be accessed by people living overseas to make payments here at home. “So, you may have wantoks who are living overseas, instead of them sending you the money to your account and then you pay for your top- up or your mobile phone, they can get on to Pei Beta and they can pay for your mobile phone and top- up there. It’s one step less and obviously its fee free and accessible to anyone, not only Kina Bank customers.” Pie Beta is now available online for people to register by simply going to www.peibeta.com and select Create Account from the Home or Login page to register and create an account.

Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) members in the city of Mt. Hagen were privileged to learn more about their superfund during an awareness session that was hosted for the 200 Nambawan Super employers and members from the Western Highlands Province and around the Highlands Region. The engagement follows on from the Fund’s 2023 Employer Conference hosted last week in Port Moresby and is the first of several regional engagement activities that will be delivered in 2023. This is part of the Fund’s ongoing efforts to deliver more information and awareness regarding superannuation, the Fund’s performance and activities, and improve the accessibility of our products and services for all our Members across the Country. NSL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Paul Sayer remarked, “These regional engagements are crucial for NSL’s progress as a profit to Members Fund, as it allows us to interact and hear firsthand the needs of our Members throughout the country.” “It also allows our Management team and Board Directors to have productive dialogue with our Members about how we can continue to improve our products and services to better meet their needs”, he added. The engagement saw NSL’s Senior Management present on initiatives that the Fund is undertaking to improve Member and Employer services as well as to continue generating strong returns over the long term. Presentations included information on important Member information and updates on Branch and service improvements; Customer Experience initiatives that aim to improve the Member experience across every touch point; Branch, Contact Call Centre, Employer Relations activities; the importance of Member Data collection and Member uptake of value-added services; and the utilisation of Digital Services such as SMS, Mobile App, and other online services. While in Mt. Hagen, NSL’s Board and Management also toured a number of potential investments within the Region, where NSL’s Chairman Mr. Reginald Monagi and Deputy Chairwoman Dame Meg Taylor also met Western Highlands Province Governor Wai Rapa, to discuss NSL’s activities within the Province and viable investment opportunities that the Fund may consider on behalf of its Members. Mr. Monagi added, “These engagements are valuable as they reinforce the Board’s commitment as Independent Trustee Directors to ensure that Nambawan Super abides by the principles of good corporate governance and operates with no other purpose other than to serve the interests of members, by protecting and growing their savings.” NSL hosted the engagement and awareness session on Friday, 14th July.

The Youth Council members in the North Fly district of the Western province are now in a better position to help deliver youth development programs in the district after completing a Youth Leadership Training program just recently. The training was facilitated by National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) in partnership with Justice Stability Services for Development, which focused on delivering basic leadership skillsets to equip and help youths manage their youth councils and members. The participants also managed to successfully develop their first ever youth council constitution draft during the training. North Fly District Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Greg Isau in his keynote speech, announced that the NYDA will be invited to do more awareness on its National Youth Policy 2020-2030 and some of its national programs at a special forum to be hosted by the district, which is why the training was important. Justice Stability Services for Development Advisor, Mr. Andy Philip pledged their support for youth development and to emphasize the need to collaborate and work in partnership between the various government agencies and administrations to create more opportunities for young people to be empowered. The Youth Leadership Training was conducted from the 03rd of July to the 07th of July at Bugum Lodge in Kiunga. The District Youth Development Council members received their certificate of attendance after completing the training.

Digicel PNG in its efforts to supporting education in Papua New Guinea, has launched through the Digicel Foundation a brand-new educational television show called “Be Lit.” At its official launching and roadshow this morning at the Vision City Shopping Mall in Port Moresby city, Digicel Foundation PNG Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ms. Serena Sasingian said that this new initiative shows their focus on continuing to invest more in education for the next generation of Papua New Guineans. “Be Lit stands for Better Literacy, it’s our education TV block that we have going on TVWAN,” she said. “Digicel PNG saw the need to invest in education through our Foundation. So, on television everyday now you will be able to see television shows from the Da Vinci channel that we have acquired and also from providers around the world.” The CEO added that they have also produced their own TV show called “Numbers World” and also an early learning show that they will broadcast soon along with other educational shows. “We as a nation need to make sure that we are investing in our children and they need to know that they can achieve the dreams they have in their hearts,” Ms. Sasingian added. Digicel PNG has invested K169million into education, health and the social sector in its 15 years of operation in the country, and from that funding support, Digicel Foundation has delivered over 680 classrooms for a number of schools in the country. Meanwhile, the new "Be Lit" educational block will start going on air next week Monday 17th of July on TVWAN channel one and will run weekdays from 9am in the morning to 3pm in the afternoon。

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Friday 14th July to make way for a Joint Venture (JV) partnership between the State and the RD Group, marks a turning point for Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the fisheries industry. Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, said that for far too long PNG has only been giving out licenses to fishing companies to come into PNG waters, fish and take about 80% of catch from the country’s waters to canneries and processing plants in other countries. “We have not learnt to fish in commercial fishing boats, we have no master fishermen. Effectively, our country has been a rent collector and a spectator in this very important resource for a very long time,” said Minister Maru. “Our goal is simple; at some point we want to see 100% of our catch caught and processed in Papua New Guinea. This will result in the creation of 10 more processing plants and employ Papua New Guineans.” That is why the MOU signing was important because the RD Group already has fish processing plants in Madang and has been operating in the country for 28 years now, which means it would be easier to establish as larger operation in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as JV partners in commercial fishing. The MOU signed in Port Moresby aims to negotiate commercial terms for the State and RD Group to set up a Joint Venture (JV) company to initially fish and process all the catch in a new possible cannery within the Pacific Maritime Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang as a SEZ. “We will work together with the State Negotiation Team to come up with an agreement that suit both parties and I’d like to hope that the conclusion of three months, both parties through the State Negotiation Team will arrive at an agreement that we are both happy with.” Minister Maru later thanked Prime Minister (PM) James Marape for the support for this major project that has eventually resulted in the signing of the MoU between the State and RD Group. “This is about taking back PNG, this is about creating 50, 000 jobs, this is about processing all our fish on shore, and maximizing the benefits for our country.” The MOU was signed between the Ministry of International Trade and Investments (MITI), Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH), National Fisheries Authority (NFA), and the RD Group.

The National Government has signed a Memorendum of Understanding (MOU) with RD Tuna Corporation that will see in the near future more locally owned fishing boats fishing within the waters of Papua New Guinea (PNG), creating more employment opportunities for the people. The MOU signed this morning in Port Moresby aims to negotiate commercial terms for the State and RD Corporation to set up a Joint Venture (JV) company to initially fish and process all the catch in a new possible cannery within the PMIZ in Madang as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, who had been negotiating with RD Corporation, said that this MOU is a big achieve for the government. "This is a historical initiative of the Marape- Rosso government to go into domestication of the fishing industry where out of these negotiations we could for the first time have a large fishing company to fish our own waters with PNG owned fishing boats and our fishing crew, " said the minister. "This will result in us one day having our own master fishermen and owning and participating the full value chain of the industry to maximize our returns for our fisheries , including creating many jobs for our young people. " After signing the MOU, the State Negotiation Team will meet with the RD Team to commence the negotiations. The members of the State Negotiation Team are: 1. Mr. Issac Lupari (Chairman) 2. Mr. Daniel Rolpagarea- State Solicitor (Deputy Chairman) 3. Dr. David Kavanamur- Managing Director of KCH 4. Minister Kessy Sawang (Madang Representative) 5. Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa 6. NFA Managing Director Justin Ilakini 7. Acting Secretary Department of International Trade and Investments, Mrs. Jacinta Warakai Manual. The State Negotiation Team will have three months to complete the negotiations and report back to the National Executive Council (NEC) with a proposal that both partners are happy to advance the JV agreement to set up the proposed new JV fishing company. "The contribution to the State to the JV company can both be a cash equity injection and the PMIZ land, and the contribution of RD Corporation would be the fishing boats they own, their wharf, office, and cold storage facilities at Vidar. This is of course subject to valuation and negotiation, " said Maru. Minister Maru added that the JV company is expected to create employment for 50, 000 people. The MOU was signed between the Ministry of International Trade and Investments, Kumul Consolidated Holdings, National Fisheries Authority, and RD Corporation.

Over 30 youths from the Western Highlands province are now in a better position to start their own small businesses after completing a Youth in MSME training program conducted at Ogelbang, Mt. Hagen Central. The training is the culmination of work progressed since 2021 after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Small Medium Enterprise Corporation (SMEC) and the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA). The training started on Monday the 26th of June and officially ended on the 4th of July, which saw 32 Youth participants graduating with a certificate in Youth in MSME, which is an internationally accredited and ILO Certified training program. The training was made possible with the support of the NYDA and SMEC and The Mt Hagen City Authority. This partnership forged so far, is having great impacts on the lives of out-of-school youths of the district. The Graduation Ceremony was attended by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Mt Hagen City Authority, Mr. Jim Pena and the Managing Director of SMEC, Mr. Petrus Ralda. Both leaders spoke highly of the partnership approach, saying that it is the ideal method to foster change in the minds of youths. The leaders acknowledged and appreciated the work of NYDA in bridging and reaching the young people right down to the ward level through the District Youth Development Council (DYDC) network. To kick start the youth in MSME activities, each agency gave K 10,000 (total K20, 000) to the Mt Hagen District Youth Development Council for them to drive the program at the Local Level Government (LLG) levels. The President of the Mt Hagen District Youth Council, Mr. Philip Mumuky was grateful to the NYDA for the delivery of this “Youth in MSME Training,” which he acknowledged was the catalyst to source support from other stakeholders in the province. He also stated that the presence of NYDA in the district through this program gives more prominence to the work of Mt Hagen Central DYDC. Since its establishment in 2021, this is one of the big activities rested on the DYDC and they are excited to drive it forward. "Under the NYDA/SMEC partnership, we intend to rollout out a similar program in other districts. Empowering youths via MSME program sets a better motivation for youths to plot their future in the right direction." NYDA hopes to continue to groom the next generation of young potential entrepreneurs through such intervention in partnership with all stakeholders.

The recent opening of the new police station at the notorious Koki area in the city of Port Moresby has been welcomed by the public and the business community in the area. In recent times this area has been the site for ethnic clashes, riots and criminal activities, affecting the residents, people that frequent the area and shop and business owners in Koki. Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (POMCCI) President, Mr. Rio Fiocco, when commenting recently on the riot and looting last week Monday at Koki, said it was important that the police manpower in the area is beefed up and well equipped to handle the law-and-order situation that may arise in the future. He said just having security or surveillance cameras alone installed in the area is not enough to address the law and order at Koki. “Having CCTV cameras put up around the Koki area is not going to solve the problem, we need police manpower who have proper communication and vehicles to be ready to respond to these emergencies when they happen.” “We’ve seen what happened. It’s clear to all of us that we need more stations in the city, and they (Police) need to be better trained and quick to respond.” He said what had happened in Koki on Monday 03rd July, clearly shows the breakdown of law and order. "Therefore, for the old police post to be upgraded to a new police station at Koki, is a way forward to reducing the law and order issues, for freedom of movement for public and business houses operation and services to the people."

The inaugural Momase Regional Youth Games (RYG) is set to be hosted in Madang this year. This is after the Madang Provincial Administration and National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) with partners PNG Sports Foundation and DFCDR, signed the Host Contract Agreement recently. RYG is a new sporting concept targeting the rural youths who have less opportunity to participate in formally sanctioned sporting codes. “We have huge sporting potential and rural talents locked in the rural areas, they need some exposure in the mainstream sporting arena, hence the RYG concept creates that platform for them to showcase,” said the provincial administrator. “We acknowledge the Madang Governor for having the foresight on youth empowerment activities in the province." "Youth issues are cross-cutting and complex as we all know, therefore engaging youths in one way or the other is the way forward for us to manage and contain law & orders, whilst empowering them to be self-reliant, self-disciplined." "Such is a proactive approach in all endeavors to create a sustainable future." Youth from the Momase Region are expected to converge at Madang in September for the week- long sporting activity. The host contract was signed by the Provincial Administrator, Franck Lau, Director General NYDA, and Deputy Secretary- DFCDR, Jack Simbou.

The relationship between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Japan has always been an important one with both nations enjoying trade and people to people relations and military assistance, especially for PNG. Japan’s Ambassador to PNG H.E Nobuyuki Watanabe, when speaking recently at the welcoming ceremony of the visiting Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) flagship JS Izumo, said that both countries have developed a very important and good relationship as nations in the pacific and that relationship has been beneficial for both nations over the years. “In particular, since Papua New Guinea gained independence in 1975, we have deepened our cooperation and people to people exchange in a wide range of field, including infrastructure, fisheries, forestry, mining, education and health,” said the ambassador. He added that more recently, exchanges in the security field have been rapidly extended. Among many of the examples are the capacity assistance to the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) band and the technical training program for PNG military engineers, which was launched just last year (2022). Meanwhile, he said the visit of the JS Izumo is not only an embodiment of the strong tie Japan and PNG has, but also a great milestone for the future development of exchange between the two countries in a wide range of fields.

The four days stopover of the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) carrier the Izumo, is part of Japan’s relationship with other maritime nations in the pacific to ensuring peace and prosperity in the region. The Commanding Officer of the JS Izumo, Captain Takemasa Jo, said that Japan being a maritime nation itself in the pacific has developed ties, called “Kizuna” in Japanese, with other maritime nations like Papua New Guinea (PNG), in the political and economic areas as well as in national security between countries for decades. “Such a special relationship can be constructed by sharing a common sense of value, virtue and experience between each other and we have shared many things between our countries through various interactions,” said the Captain of the Izumo. “These are everlasting values, for instance freedom of the seas and the rules based international order, which are indispensable to the citizens of the maritime nations in order to protect the beautiful and blessing seas of the pacific.” He also added that at the same time, the international situation is getting more complicated and uncertain in recent years. “Under these circumstances it is necessary to cooperate with the likeminded countries, which we can share prevailing values, customs and norms cultivated for decades in the global society.” He said the visitation of the vessel and crew to PNG is part of that tie or relationship. This recent visit follows the visits from JS Kirisame last year and the JS Makinami two years ago. “Also, the annual deployment shows that Japan thinks your country is a very important partner and vice versa, therefore, I believe it is very important to make our Kizuna across the Pacific stronger than before for our prosperity and stability in the region.” The JS Izumo arrived in Port Moresby yesterday, Friday 07th July and will be here for four days. The carrier is currently anchored off the coast facing the Ela Beach because it is too big to fit in the main wharf in Port Moresby.

Prime Minister (PM) James Marape now wants everyone from the political level down to the departments, and the provinces and districts to work together to fully implement the newly launched Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) 4 (2023- 2027) to achieve the development aspirations of Papua New Guinea (PNG). During the launching of the MTDP 4, Marape plainly stated that this next phase of the development plan is important for service and development to reach the people in the remotest parts of the country; therefore, it will only fully achieve its set out priorities when everybody work together. “This is a collective work and for those of us who are leaders in office, both elected and non-elected, it is really up to us now to make it happen for our country." “This plan is a K51billion plan to be implemented in the next four years that should improve health, education, infrastructure, law and order, and the economic sector for all parts of the country.” The MTDP 4 is an integral part of the National Development Framework that provides the strategies for the government’s medium- term goals, priorities, investments, targets and indicators. The successful implementation of the MTDP 4 is key to PNG achieving Vision 2050 to be a smart, wise, fair, healthy and happy society and to be ranked in the top 50 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index by 2050. The MTDP 4 was officially launched on Friday 07th July at the APEC Haus in Port Moresby by the PM and the Minister for Finance and Implementation, Rainbo Paita.