FEBRUARY 23, 2023
Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) Acting Chief Executive Officer Kikila Yavase says SEZ developers and operators must own clear land titles or have long-term lease arrangements with landowners.
He said investors in a declared SEZ space would be issued a user license by the SEZA Board or the developer(s) licensed under the SEZ Act to invest in the declared zone.
Mr. Yavase said this today (Thursday, February 23, 2023) when explaining how SEZs would operate in Papua New Guinea.
“The Board Chairman Mr. Varigini Badira made it very clear in a recent media statement that Special Economic Zone developers and/or operators are companies or persons who own clear land titles. They can also be persons who will have long-term lease arrangements with landowners – who have State land titles to develop or develop and operate SEZs – so investors can have land security comfort to invest their money.
“The State, including Local Level Governments, District Development Authorities, Provincial Governments and State companies – can partner the developer or the developer and operator.
“Investors – both foreign or local – in a declared SEZ space will be issued a user license by the SEZA Board or the developer(s) licensed under the SEZ Act to invest in the declared zone.”
Mr Yavase said SEZA guided by the Board fully support the drive by International Trade and Investment Minister, Hon. Richard Maru, “to ensure few SEZs who are viable and fully meet the criterias under the SEZ Act are licensed by the Board to develop, operate and attract investors to invest in the resources we have with strong policies, rules and regulations”.
“All SEZ application processes, requirements, criterias and licensing processes are in place and clearly stated in the SEZA Act,” he said.
“SEZ is a whole-of-Government programme. All competent agencies who will be part of the SEZ process – depending and varying on sector and industry – will be widely consulted through the one-stop shop arrangements under the SEZ Act.
“Proper processes and procedures will be put in place to ensure SEZs are a success story for the generations to come.”
Mr Yavase said SEZA was now operating as a standalone Government agency and housed on the 8th and 3rd floors of Dynasty Tower at Savannah Heights in Port Moresby.
******
YYour post about PNG Special Economic Zones is very good and interesting. Comments from Acting CEOs of Authority and Board give light on SME legal framework, operational mechanisms and partnership opportunities. Hopefully benefits-sharing arrangements amongst landowners, Wards, LLGs, SPAs & DDA will be adequately addressed for good of all.
I am really interested in working with an Australian-based employer to be a committed employer wittin the organization.
We plan to procure agriculture machines like oil press to produce oil from coconut and copra. Can SEZA give us as a village based project free duty and customs or IRC tax charges under the exception of agriculture equipment?
We advise please.