The Japanese International Cooperation Agency has joined the Asian Development Bank in denying it is involved in supporting the government's controversial Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang.

JICA’s public relations division has told ACT NOW! "JICA PNG Office has never been a party to this project both at the initial designing stage as well as construction”. 

“If some one is using JICA then, someone is doing it for his own benefit without the consent of the JICA PNG Office.” 

This denial contradicts government documents that claim JICA is committed to assist financially and technically with the development of the project.

The government has made similar claims of support for PMIZ from the Asian Development Bank, which two-weeks ago, like JICA, denied its involvement in the project.

The PMIZ, which will see up to ten tuna processing factories being built on disputed land north of Madang, has been heavily criticized for its deeply negative social and environmental impacts. 

Local landowners and their MP, Ken Fairweather, have declared their opposition to the project and Fairweather has commenced legal proceedings over the environmental impacts and land alienation.

In contrast, the World Bank is heavily involved in PMIZ. The World Bank assisted in the development of the PMIZ concept and is drafting legislation that will allow the site to be declared a tax-free Special Economic Zone. The World Bank legislation will also allow further tax-free zones to be created across PNG.

ACT NOW! has created a email action where you can send a letter of protest to the World Bank over its support for Special Economic Zones and PMIZ.