Madang Provincial Economic Profile

1. INTRODUCTION

Madang Province

Madang Province is one of the four Momase Provinces in Papua New Guinea and commonly known as "Beautiful Madang" because of its peaceful environment and beautiful scenery. The province has coastal people of Bogia to Rai Coast, the islanders of Manam, Karkar , Bagbag and Long Island, the river people of Ramu,Sogeram and Transgogol and the higher altitude people Finistere , Adelbert and the Schrader Ranges. Seeing Madang Province is like seeing Papua New Guinea because of meeting different people with different environment and different culture and customs. Madang Province has a very diverse culture and has over 170 languages, which is about one third of total languages in PNG, are spoken by over 365,000 people. Many people come to Madang to rest, gatherings, meetings and feel more belonged than their place of origin.

Madang Province, bordered six neighboring provinces. The Morobe Province to the South east, East Sepik to the Norththwest and Eastern Highland Province, Chimbu, Western Highlands and Enga Province in the West.and South west of Madang. The Bismarck Seas is the bounding seas.

Districts of Madang Province

Madang Province has Six Districts and Nineteen Local Level Government. The Six Districts are the central Madang District, Bogia District to the North-west, Middle Ramu District to the Southwest, Rai Coast District, to the Southeast, Sumkar District to the North and Usino Bundi District.to the South These districts are also the political electorates under the new Organic Law on provincial government system. Except for Sumkar District and Usino Bundi Districts, all district have three local level governments each.

Provincial Government

Madang Provincial Government came into being because of the passing of Provincial Government Acts of 1974, which became law on 23rd of July, 1974. The Madang Provincial government Charter was granted on 7th June 1978 and Madang Interim Government replaced Madang Area Authority.

The Madang Provincial Government gained its full provincial government status in 1980 and like other provincial governments, has power to legislate provincial laws on wide range of activities.

The National Government passed the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments (OLPG&LLG) law on 19th July, 1995 also gives important powers, structure, and increased roles and responsibilities to different level of government in the province.