The Opening of the new Tininga Hagen Central shopping mall today comes on a timely gesture, as a Christmas gift to the people of Western Highlands Province.
Despite the financial crisis Papua New Guinea is going through, Tininga store owner, Pat Duckwargh, said it was a gesture of faith to his faithful customers.
The shopping mall cost Tininga Company and Steamships at least K10 million to partner in building it.
Mr Duckwargh said he would like to lift the standard of retailing in Mt Hagen to a whole new level so that people should not need to fly to Port Moresby to experience it.
Duckwargh said he built the shopping mall in Mt Hagen, being the centre of the seven Highlands Provinces, so it will benefit her sister Provinces.
The shopping mall has a similar architectural design to the shopping malls in Australia.
Most of its frozen goods are imported from Australia and New Zealand.
Its fresh produce is bought locally from farmers. The new shopping mall is Tininga Company’s fourth retail shop to be opened in Mt Hagen City.
The Company lost one of its new shopping centres, Tininga Dobel to fire a few months ago, leaving Rainbo and Best Buy operating.
Women and mothers living near the new shopping mall are very thankful to Tininga for building a shopping centre near them.
They told EMTV News they never feel safe walking to the town to buy their goods.
More than 3,000 people living in the surrounding Tee School, Holy Trinity and the New Town area can now easily walk to do their shopping.
Tininga company has partnered with Steamships to build the shopping mall.
Trading has already started this morning and shoppers were packed to capacity to see what it is like to have a shopping mall for the first time.
Some other big companies that will set up later are Big Rooster, Nambawan Trophy, City Pharmacy, Kina bank and Theodist Stationery.
