http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20100519/wehome.htm
By ERIC TAPAKAU
HIGH level foreigners employed by firms in Papua New Guinea will now be granted permanent resident status in the country, says Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Sam Abal.
Their visas will not have to be renewed every three years. Speaking at the 26th Australia-Papua New Guinea Business Forum, Minister Abal told participants that the Government recognized the significant contributions to PNG made by the highly skilled senior executive officers. “I especially welcome the high level chief executive officers that come to work and live in PNG and are contributing to the dynamism to the country,” Mr Abal said. “In this regard I am pleased to announce today that a new category of permanent residence for chief executive officers of large companies has been introduced and implemented immediately. “This means that people falling under this category need not renew work permit and employment visas every three years. They are given PR status, ” he said. This is one of the positive developments announced by Minister Abal at the forum attended by more than 300 participants from both Australian and PNG business communities as well as the bureaucracy.
Mr Abal said he had implemented some reforms to improve the service levels at the PNG Immigration Services with the decision to separate Immigration from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He said he had established the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Services as an independent statutory authority when Parliament sits this week.
“As a part of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration service did not get the attention it deserved as an important service of the Government,” Mr Abal said.
By ERIC TAPAKAU
HIGH level foreigners employed by firms in Papua New Guinea will now be granted permanent resident status in the country, says Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Sam Abal.
Their visas will not have to be renewed every three years. Speaking at the 26th Australia-Papua New Guinea Business Forum, Minister Abal told participants that the Government recognized the significant contributions to PNG made by the highly skilled senior executive officers. “I especially welcome the high level chief executive officers that come to work and live in PNG and are contributing to the dynamism to the country,” Mr Abal said. “In this regard I am pleased to announce today that a new category of permanent residence for chief executive officers of large companies has been introduced and implemented immediately. “This means that people falling under this category need not renew work permit and employment visas every three years. They are given PR status, ” he said. This is one of the positive developments announced by Minister Abal at the forum attended by more than 300 participants from both Australian and PNG business communities as well as the bureaucracy.
Mr Abal said he had implemented some reforms to improve the service levels at the PNG Immigration Services with the decision to separate Immigration from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He said he had established the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Services as an independent statutory authority when Parliament sits this week.
“As a part of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration service did not get the attention it deserved as an important service of the Government,” Mr Abal said.