About the Finschaffen Intergrated Special Economic Zone

The Finschhafen Integrated Special Economic Zone (FISEZ) represents a cornerstone initiative within Papua New Guinea's national economic strategy, meticulously designed to transform the Finschhafen District of Morobe Province into a pivotal industrial and economic hub for the broader Asia-Pacific region. By capitalising on the district's abundant natural resources, strategic coastal geography, and strong local support, FISEZ is poised to catalyse transformative growth across a portfolio of key sectors. The project is fundamentally structured to drive economic diversification, focusing on large-scale hydropower generation, heavy industry through limestone mining and cement production, and enhanced global trade via the construction of a modern deep-sea port.  

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The strategic vision for FISEZ is to cultivate a self-sustaining and integrated economic ecosystem. This ecosystem will serve multiple national objectives: achieving significant import substitution, particularly in construction materials; boosting the value of national exports through downstream processing; generating mass employment opportunities to absorb a growing workforce; and establishing a new, replicable model for sustainable and equitable regional development in Papua New Guinea. This ambitious undertaking is in direct alignment with the national government's explicit agenda to pivot the country's economy away from its historical over-reliance on the extractive industries of mining and petroleum, fostering a more resilient and diversified economic base.  

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The project is anchored by a triad of high-potential, interconnected investment pillars that create powerful commercial synergies. The first is the development of large-scale hydropower resources to provide cheap, reliable, and green energy—a critical enabler for industrialisation that has long been a bottleneck for growth in PNG. The second is the establishment of a limestone mining and cement production industry, leveraging local endowments to meet national demand. The third is the construction of a state-of-the-art deep-sea port at Busega, which will serve as the logistical backbone for the zone and a new gateway for PNG's exports to global markets. These core pillars are complemented by a range of further opportunities in ancillary sectors, including eco-tourism, advanced agricultural technology (agritech), fisheries, and specialised manufacturing, creating a multi-layered economic zone.  

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Crucially, the FISEZ project is propelled by robust political will and strong community backing. It is actively championed by key government leaders, including the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru, who provides national-level policy support, and the local Member of Parliament and Minister for Mining, Hon. Rainbo Paita, who has cultivated local support and driven the project's foundational development. This dual leadership ensures alignment between national strategy and local implementation. The project has received conceptual approval from the national government and enjoys the enthusiastic support of local landowners and communities, who have been actively engaged and have been anticipating its launch for over six years.  

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The FISEZ initiative is now transitioning from a long-term vision into a tangible, investment-ready reality. The Finschhafen District Development Authority (DDA) has demonstrated its commitment by investing K6 million over the past six years in preliminary studies and groundwork. This has been followed by a further allocation of K3.5 million to engage the globally experienced China Overseas Engineering Group Limited (COVEC) for the execution of comprehensive feasibility studies and the creation of detailed master plans. With the national government's endorsement secured, the project is on a clear trajectory for the granting of an official Special Economic Zone license in 2025, marking the formal commencement of its development phase.