By Meriba Tulo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
West New Britain has become the seventh Provincial Government to partner with the PNG Investment Promotion Authority in promoting services related to business, companies and association registration.
The MOU now allows for the setting up of a Help Desk at the West New Britain Provincial Commerce Office to facilitate business registration and related activities.
With the signing of today’s MOU, West New Britain now becomes the seventh Provincial Government to agree to establish a Help-Desk to assist its citizens to access IPA services.
According to IPA Managing Director, Clarence Hoot, this is part of the organization’s efforts to expand its services in more centers across the country.
“So by signing the MOU’s, there are a number of things that we undertake with the Provincial Administration. Some of those include – providing all the services that the IPA provides here at the headquarters and also in our four regional offices”
“In the past, they had to fly over either to Kokopo or to Port Moresby, just to register a business.”
West New Britain Governor, Sasindran Muthuvel witnessed the signing – in thanking the IPA for extending its services, the Governor said this would assist more people in his province to venture into businesses – particularly given there is a surplus of disposable income in the province.
Governor Muthuvel said, “West New Britain being an economical province and the most successful in agriculture and people do have disposable income compared to any other provinces, this is the right move for us to have an understanding with IPA.”
The establishment of a Help Desk in Kimbe will make it easier for the registration of businesses, and cut down on high transportation costs, which have been a major hindrance in the past.
Following the signing, the IPA will send a team to the province to carry-out training for Provincial Commerce Staff and bring them up to speed with IPA system requirements.
