Rigo Rice, perhaps the biggest successful rice project in Papua New Guinea (PNG), is the main one amongst six other projects to get their licenses this year to operate as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, said that Rigo Rice in the Central province has set a benchmark for the rest of the projects to venture into a large-scale project that can be turned into a SEZ that would generate employment for thousands and contribute to the economy going forward.
“Rigo Rice, they are already an existing project and they have spent a lot of money and all they need is the support from government, So, Rigo Rice is one that we think will be given the highest priority to be assisted to be licensed this year.
Other SEZs in line to get receive their licenses this year are the KCH led manufacturing SEZ in the Central province, the Lae Port SEZ, PMIZ in Madang, the log processing zone in Central province, and an Inland Port SEZ in Markham Valley in Morobe province.
“Basically, those six could get their licenses before the year is up and I will be working with them and the secretary and the SEZ Authority to make sure they meet the requirements to be given license.”
Minister Maru said after the successful SEZ Summit this week, these six SEZ projects mark the start of more to come for the country. The minister said already there has been interest coming in from groups and landowners from parts of the country to start their own projects and be part of a SEZ.