Prime Minister and Member for Tari-Pori, James Marape, officiated at the opening of major developments aimed at improving banking services, government revenue administration, and law and order in Hela Province.
Mr Marape led a high-level delegation for the official opening of the new Bank South Pacific (BSP) branch and the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) office, and the commissioning of the Enopi Police Barracks in Tari.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by BSP CEO Mark Robinson and BSP Group Chairman Robert Bradshaw; Hela Governor Philip Undialu; Minister for Police Sir John Pundari; Police Commissioner David Manning, Acting IRC Commissioner General Sam Loi; and Minister for Finance Thomas Opa and Member for Nipa-Kutubu, Dr. Billy Joseph.
The Enopi Police Barracks project includes 31 new police accommodation houses and the installation of new police recruits to strengthen law enforcement capacity in Hela.
Mr Marape said the opening of the BSP branch and IRC office would improve access to essential financial and taxation services, support business growth, and encourage SME registration and compliance through easier access to Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) and other IRC services.
Other leaders present included Koroba-Kopiago MP William Bando; Bank of PNG Governor Elizabeth Genia and Mineral Resources Development Company CEO Augustine Mano.