WNB BUSINESSES BEING PUSHED OUT SAYS KUMAI

CAPTION: TALASEA MP Freddie Reu Kumai raised concerns in Parliament over systematic displacement of local businesses in West New Britain Province

BY NIGEL MADO

TALASEA MP Freddie Reu Kumai has raised serious concerns in Parliament over what he described as the systematic displacement of local businesses in West New Britain Province by large foreign conglomerate companies operating under New Britain Palm Oil Limited.

During yesterday’s Parliament session, Kumai told the House that for more than 40 years locally based contractors and small-to-medium enterprises had actively participated in construction, civil works, oil palm estate replanting and excavation work linked to the province’s oil palm industry.

However, he said many of those opportunities were now being absorbed by foreign-linked companies associated with Sime Darby, the operator of New Britain Palm Oil Limited.

He claimed the growing dominance of foreign contractors was creating what he described as a “de facto monopoly,” marginalising Papua New Guinean-owned businesses and redirecting economic benefits away from local communities.

Kumai warned that profits and opportunities were increasingly being extracted out of the province and the country rather than circulating within local economies.

The Talasea MP said the issue extended beyond commercial competition and had become a matter of economic rights and national interest.