The management team from a Filipino multi-billion-kina company, Century Peak Holdings Limited Corporation, visited Papua New Guinea (PNG) this week to assess major investment opportunities in the country. Their specific interest is to start a 10,000 hectares rice farm, invest in property within the Paga Hill Special Economic Zone, and they also want to invest in manufacturing and the mining sector as they own and operate a Nickel Mine in the Philippines. Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru said the Company has five subsidiaries namely, Century Peak Corporation, Century Peak Mineral Development Corporation, Century Peak Cement Manufacturing Corporation, Century Sidewide Smelting Incorporated, and Century Hua Guang Smelting Incorporated. Minister Maru said they plan to expand their operations to PNG. "They have established a country office in PNG and have registered their company and are now looking at establishing a major business operation in PNG." "They called me and also met with the Managing Director for the Mineral Resources Authority, Mr. Jerry Garry as they are keen to know the investment opportunities available in the mining industry." The company is about to secure 10,000 hectares at Brown River in the Central Province to start the first large-scale mechanized commercial rice farm in PNG. "They have been working with the landowners and the Department of Lands and Physical Planning over 12 months." He said they are ready to start but the biggest holdup has been the slowness of the Department of Lands and Physical Planning in assisting the landowners to get the State title over their land so they can arrange a long-term lease and enter into a mutually benefiting project agreement with the State, the Central Provincial Government and the landowners. "I have reached out to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning John Rosso, to help us resolve the land issue so we can start the first large-scale commercial mechanized rice farm in PNG before September 16." "This project will be developed as the Central Rice Special Economic Zone."