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A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the state and landowners in the PNG LNG project area will see a total of K35 million paid to the landowners later this week, says EMTV. The landowners will also end their near two-week blockade, which began as a protest against the government’s failure to pay royalties from the LNG plant.

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Plantation owner and coffee processor, Bill Gardner, has told the ABC the coffee industry is in danger of becoming a ‘minor industry’. He says production is decreasing and there are fewer coffee trees in the ground today than there were 10 years ago. He blames the volatility of coffee prices, poor education, a lack of law and order and failing infrastructure.

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There has been a decline in the demand for services in the freight industry due to the ongoing lack of foreign currency, The National reports. Freight forwarding company Pacific Cargo’s Group financial controller Fred Kowas is reported to have attributed the drop to the completion of the LNG (liquefied natural gas) project and the declining prices of resources.

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The Supreme Court has allowed the State of PNG to join as a party in the K3 billion Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) loan case. The court has been asked to rule on constitutional issues relating to the loan, used to buy shares in Oil Search. The matter is back before the court early next month

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Oil Search has posted an 89 per cent fall in first-half profit as a drop in energy prices offset increased output. Net income was $25.6 million, compared with $227.5 million last year. Revenue fell 33 per cent as production climbed four per cent.

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InterOil’s board has urged shareholders vote in favour of the US$2.45 billion takeover offer by ExxonMobil at a special meeting on September 21 in New York.

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Meanwhile, Philippe Blanchard, the Managing Director of Total E&P PNG, the Papua LNG developer, says the company’s schedule is on time and they will make a final investment decision in 2018, with production scheduled for 2022/2023.

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The betel nut business is booming on Bougainville, according to PNG Loop, because of betel nut shortages in Morobe Province and in the Highlands.

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The National Fisheries Authority has moved from paper reporting of tuna resources into electronic reporting, according to The National. Tuna fisheries manager Brian Kumasi says when a boat goes out for fishing for a month or three months, it collects all the information on the boat, which is then sent back, evaluated and validated.

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A new furniture and electrical retailer known as FairPrice opened its doors in Port Moresby last week, The National reports. The retailer is located at Courts building in Gordons and sells furniture and household electrical items.

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Marianna Ellingson, Director General, the Office of Tourism, Arts and Culture

The office of Tourism, Arts and Culture has pledged support to help protect the work of local designers and artists, according to the Post Courier. It is reported that the director general Marianna Ellingson said that at all cost, intellectual property must be protected as it is the wealth of this nation. She reportedly said the music industry was already in disarray due to increased levels of piracy.

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And finally, seven local fashion designers have showcased their products at the first-ever PNG Fashion Week.  The PNG Fashion week with the theme Tribal Eclectic, presented 101 different types of Corporate, Evening and Leisure and traditionally inspired outfits.