When social media gets shut down; what next for Total; and a proposed merger of  two seafood companies. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

Facebook users in the country can expect a month’s shutdown access to the site in PNG in order for the Communications and Information Technology Department to carry out research and analysis of its use, reports The Post-Courier. Communications Minister Sam Basil reportedly said that the shutdown would enable the department and National Research Institute to conduct further research on how the social network was being used by users.

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French oil giant Total is preparing to pull out of Iran to avoid risking US sanctions. The company said recently that it was unable to proceed with a US$2 billion project to develop the country’s giant South Pars gas field, one of the world’s biggest reserves. In April, Total’s Managing Director in PNG, Philippe Blanchard, told Business Advantage PNG that, subject to approval, the country’s second LNG project is expected to be ready by 2023-24.

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Plans by the National Government and National Airports Corporation to have private operators of Jacksons International Airport, under a Private-Public Partnership arrangement, has reportedly received tremendous interest. Civil Aviation Minister Alfred Manase said with the support of the Asian Development Bank there has been tremendous interest shown in the arrangement.

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The Bougainville South MP in the Papua New Guinea parliament, Timothy Masiu, reportedly says the PNG Government is sidestepping key issues as the province prepares for a referendum on possible independence. Bougainville is to hold the vote in June next year.

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Papua New Guinea has to keep its market open and make necessary investments to develop domestic infrastructure and human resources, according to Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Rimbink Pato. Speaking at the opening of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Port Moresby on Friday, Pato took stock of challenges across the changing global landscape and outlined steps the ministers could take to keep trade moving and open opportunities for people in all parts of the region.

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Bank South Pacific has announced a final dividend payment of 91 toea after making a profit of K757 million. The profit for the 2017 financial year, which was first announced early this year, is an increase of K113.5 million from the previous year.

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The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission became aware of the proposed merger between Majestic Food Corporation Ltd and Frabelle (PNG) Ltd through a report in The National on May 14. ICCC commissioner and chief executive Paulus Ain reportedly said although notifications for clearance and authorisation were currently voluntary, ‘the ICCC can investigate any business acquisitions in any markets in PNG should it form a view that the business transaction may have harmful implications to competition’.

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Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Richard Maru.

National Planning Minister, Richard Maru has commended the Fresh Produce Development Agency for its work in the development, promotion, and improvement of the fruit and vegetable industry, which he said is assisting PNG achieve self-sufficiency in production and processing.

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It is being reported that the Mesean Incorporated Land Group, a group from Gabsonkec village in Huon-Gulf district, has signed an agreement for land use and cropping with Mainland Holdings Limited for sorghum farming that will earn the group K60,000 annually. The group is leasing 200 hectares of their land to MHL in a first of a kind agreement in Morobe and the country.

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Photograph of the week

Thanks to the Japanese Government’s injection of foreign aid, West New Britain Province is getting new bridges. The Dai Nippon company will be responsible for the construction, at an estimated cost of K94 million. Source: EMTV