Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has today confirmed that negotiations to invite Vodafone Fiji to invest in PNG’s Bemobile are underway but no final deal has been approved by cabinet.
O’Neill said media reports that the government has secured a deal with Vodafone are incorrect.
He said his cabinet has only given an ‘in principle’ approval for negotiations to be carried out by PNG’s Bemobile management, Vodafone Fiji and the Independent Public Business Corporation.
O’Neill said the PNG government will retain the majority shareholding in Bemobile if a final deal is reached with Vodafone Fiji.
He said Bemobile is an important asset for the people of PNG and the government will allow the company to upgrade its facilities and roll out its infrastructure throughout the country.
Vodafone Fiji Managing Director Aslam Khan is currently in a meeting and we will speak to him later today.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
