The PNG Forest Authority recently hosted a two-day Meeting No.2 of 2026 for the National Coordinating Committee and the Technical Working Group on Anti Money Laundering, Counter Terrorist Financing and Counter Proliferation Financing in Western Highlands province.
During the meeting, PNGFA managing director John Mosoro suggested for the National Coordination Committee to communicate and coordinate with the existing government monitoring committees within the Department of Prime Minister and NEC to identify the key issues affecting the Forestry Sector in the fight against money laundering.
Mr. Mosoro further suggested that all monitoring and oversight should be done under the Prime Minister’s Department, reaffirming that the authority was implementing key reforms and standards such as the Timber Legality Standards that go towards addressing money laundering risks in Forestry Sector.
“Only the Chief Secretary has the power to summon Departmental heads if Government policies are not implemented on time. Therefore a spectral committee must be created within the prime minister’s department to provide holistic information to the Prime Minister to take appropriate action.”
Moreover, in addressing money laundering risk in forest sector, the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority has taken various initiatives such as strengthening and implementing PNG’s Timber Legality Standards, hosting the PNG Forestry Sector Forum to gauge views of the industry, landowners, government bodies and stakeholders in relation to the national government’s policy agenda to ban round log exports and shift to downstream processing and the launching the PNG Diwai Holdings Limited and the National Reforestation and Afforestation program. These initiatives demonstrate PNGFA’s commitment to supporting the important work of the National Coordinating Committee on anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing.
