The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce has cautioned against haste over a plan to ask foreign small and medium entrepreneurs to leave Papua New Guinea.
Chinese-owned businesses dominate the retail sector in Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru has signalled legislation that would require business ventures of under 3.8 million US dollars to be restricted to Papua New Guineans.
Mr Maru said foreigners involved in reserved businesses would be asked to leave the country, with the government to buy their businesses and give them to locals.
The chamber's president Ronald Seddon says moves to get more locals involved in business are good but that this plan needs more thought.
"We can't just go in and arbitrarily tell businesses to sell. Because we are a democratic country here and we do have a process. The Chamber of Commerce will certainly be continuing to talk to the Minister to ensure that they do things the right way. We don't want to see businesses just being taken over like a Zimbabwe-type operation."
