Prime Minister backs Unitech’s commercial plans

Prime Minister James Marape has backed development plans for the Papua New Guinea University of Technology [PNG UOT], presenting the institution with a K10 million funding boost during an official campus visit on Tuesday.

The funding aims to support sustainable development initiatives across the Lae campus, though Marape cautioned that future financial assistance depends on strict accountability.

He called on university management to submit outstanding financial acquittals spanning the past seven years to unlock further government support.

Addressing university leadership and staff, Marape urged the institution to maximize the commercial potential of its landholdings, including proposed solar energy projects, while maintaining high standards.

"The government has ministries that only control standards and resource allocation to support you," Marape said. "I am here now to show my support; you have my blessings. Yupla gat bikpla graun i stap, make use lo displa (You have a large expanse of land, utilize it)."

Marape said existing government frameworks such as the Public-Private Partnership [PPP] policy, tax incentives, and operating leases, which the school can leverage to deliver campus projects.

PNG UOT's commercial blueprint includes plans to construct a hotel and shopping centre on campus, alongside formal utility partnerships with Water PNG and PNG Power Limited.

Meanwhile, PNG UoT Vice-Chancellor professor Ora Renagi reiterated the university’s push to acquire the former Telikom College property to facilitate campus expansion, requesting the Prime Minister to expedite an overdue National Executive Council [NEC] decision regarding the asset transfer.