A fisheries project that will create over 40,000 jobs for Papua New Guineans and several billion kina for the country is yet to kick start because of funding constraints.
The Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) project in Madang was launched in November 2015 and also captured in the recent Fisheries Strategic Plan 2021-2030 where the special economic zone for fisheries will provide necessary infrastructure for downstream processing of fish products.
Yangoru-Saussia MP Richard Maru raised the question in Parliament this week regarding the project following the delay in its work.
“This industry is worth over K1.5 billion if we are able to process all the fish in our waters,” Mr Maru said.
“Currently we’re losing over 10,000 new jobs.”
Fisheries Minister Dr Lino Tom in response said 40,000 jobs are pending at the moment because of the delay in building the infrastructures required.
“Our only problem is funding, it is something we don’t really have to start off this good project,” Dr Lino said.
“As leaders, we have our local needs that seem to be pressing and having more space in the fiscal budget so it is quite difficult for us to build this transforming infrastructure,” Dr Lino added.