By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
The
development of the 140,000ha multi-million kina Bewani oil palm project in West
Sepik province will set a benchmark for agro-forestry development in Papua New Guinea.
A woman performing a fire dance |
Abau
MP Sir Puka Temu described the historic signing of the project development agreement
last Thursday as a major achievement by the local landowners led by
Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah and their joint investor partners from Malaysia.
Sir
Puka, who delivered the keynote address at Waramei in Bewani, told the huge
crowd that the proposed oil palm development was the biggest in the province
and PNG and would bring enormous benefits and boost the economy.
Prosper Group chairman Tee Kim Tee is all smiles flanked by the chairman of four landowner companies and officials at the signing ceremony |
The
Bewani project, covering some 139,909ha and involving more than 120 incorporated
land groups (ILGs) is a major impact project.
The
company plans to develop over 80,000ha of oil palm, making this the single
largest oil palm development in the country.
About
8,000-10,000 people are expected to benefit from the project.
Sir
Puka said PNG was blessed with vast natural renewable resources as well as
non-renewable resources; however, it was up to the resource owners and their
leaders to work closely to make these resources to become beneficial and
improve the lives of the people.
He
commended Namah for his initiative in supporting the oil palm project and
ensuring that development took place in his electorate.
company and landowner representatives join hands to seal the agreement |
Sir
Puka also praised the developers for agreeing to provide several incentives as
part of the project agreement package, including a 15% free shareholding for
landowner companies; a housing scheme to ensure majority of landowners had
access to basic housing; provision of subsidies for education, health and
church; and establishment of infrastructure and other basic services.
Namah
said the agreement was far more beneficial for the landowners compared to
similar agro-forestry agreements in other provinces.
He
called on his people to give their full support and effort and work hard to
make the project a reality and more successful.
He
appealed to the people to change their bad habits like drinking and gambling
and to focus on getting the project up and running smoothly.
Namah
also called on relevant government agencies and the provincial administration
to give their full support.
Chairman
of Prosper Group of Malaysia,
the major investment partner, Tee Kim Tee, said it was a historic occasion for
his company to join with Vanimo landowners to develop the oil palm project
which would bring benefits to the local people and community.
The
oil palm development will create employment opportunities, boost infrastructure
and provide basic services for landowners, community and province.
The
Prosper Group, he said, had over 30 years experience in oil palm industry with
over 32 oil palm plantations, seven oil mills and bio-diesel plants in Malaysia.
The
vast experience and knowledge would be put to use in PNG to plant between 6,000-10,000ha
of oil palm each year and build four oil mills, making Bewani project the
biggest and most successful.
This young lass was among hundreds of villagers who attended the ceremony at Waramei |
Anglimp-South
Wahgi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham said oil palm had great potential in PNG and
foreign investors were welcome to invest, however, authorities must ensure that
land and resource owners fully benefitted from such development.
He
said PNG has many natural resources which must be used wisely to enable the
people to benefit.
Provincial
administrator Joseph Sungi said 140,000ha was a huge area for the oil palm
project and would not be easy to develop.
He
said the developers would require massive labor to work on the project.
He commended all the parties involved for
having confidence in the Bewani oil palm project and assured them of provincial
administration support.
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