By DALCY LULUA
A fiery exchange unfolded in Parliament as Member for Chuave, James Nomane, questioned the government’s spending on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and overseas trade missions, claiming over K227 million had been allocated to SEZs since 2023 with no visible outcomes in his electorate.
Speaking during Parliament’s recent session, Nomane said:
“In 2023, this minister and his department received K77 million in SEZ funding, in 2024 he received K150 million, and in 2025 the amount is undisclosed. Where has this K227 million gone? Because in Karamui, we haven’t seen anything in respect to SEZ.”
Nomane also queried the cost and value of a recent international expo attended by the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, in Osaka, Japan.
“Mr Speaker, my question is, how much did this expo in Osaka cost the taxpayers of Papua New Guinea, and what are the benefits we anticipate from all this globe-trotting by this minister and his Prime Minister?”
In response, Minister Maru refuted Nomane’s claims on the funding figures, saying:
“The SEZ Authority received K10 million last year and another K10 million this year. The bulk of it is yet to be disbursed. I don’t know where the Member got his figures. If he’s referring to State Equity funding, that is a different matter entirely.”
On the issue of international expos and trade missions, the Minister passionately defended the government’s approach, citing tangible benefits from past engagements such as the 2021 Dubai Expo, where PNG’s K5 million investment led to the registration of interest from 29 companies from the UAE.
“Those companies wanted investment assurances through an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), which has been delayed. I have now assured the UAE government we will finalise this agreement within two weeks.”
Maru also said the UAE is keen to sign an air service agreement to allow Emirates flights into Port Moresby and has offered a broader Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), potentially opening PNG’s exports to the UAE market duty-free.
“They are proposing scholarships for PNG students, jobs for skilled PNG workers, and even grant aid for our national ID system—not loans, but free aid,” he said.
Turning to the Osaka Expo, Minister Maru justified the trip by pointing to Japan’s long-standing aid relationship with PNG, describing the expo as a gesture of respect and an opportunity to build new partnerships.
“Japan is our second-largest donor after Australia. Since independence, they’ve given
over K6 billion in grant aid. Just this year, they announced K92 million to upgrade the Fisheries College in Kavieng, and they’re studying the upgrade of Tokua Airport with funding that could exceed K1 billion.”
Mr Maru said timing was critical, as Prime Minister James Marape was the first foreign leader to meet Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister, which helped secure strong commitments.
“If we didn’t go to Dubai, we wouldn’t be getting Emirates here, or scholarships, or grant aid. The K5 million spent brings back benefits 100 times over.”
Despite the criticism, Mr Maru maintained that international engagement is essential to attracting foreign investment, creating jobs, and securing development aid.
“Yes, you can complain about trips, but what they bring is far more significant than the cost. We will continue to invest in global platforms that deliver tangible returns to PNG.”