The government’s efforts to alleviate the worldwide impact of COVID-19 on the country has been given a multimillion kina boost by PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNG Ports).

Presentation of K28.4 million Corporate Tax payment to the National Government - Hon. Sasindran Muthuvel, MP Minister for State Enterprises

The State Owned Entity (SOE) paid more than K28, 467,878.42 million to the government for taxes owing from last year as well as the advance tax payments for this year.

This payment, along with the K15 million paid earlier this year, makes PNG Ports one of the few companies to pay such a significant amount to the government during the pandemic and the only company to make an advance tax payment.

During the height of the lockdown, PNG Ports also assisted the COVID-19 Joint Agency Task Force, the Health and Police Departments in kind with face masks, infrared temperature guns, hand sanitizers and awareness posters.

Board Chairman, Kepas Wali, announced this week that there was no better time than this to assist the government.

“PNG’s economy, like the rest of the world, has been hard hit by the global economic downturn and businesses, like PNG Ports, are also facing the brunt of it,” said Mr Wali.

“International trade has slowed down, there has been a decline in ship calls at our ports, cargo volumes have also decreased and low revenue has been generated as a result of a decline in export.”