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| Vitis Industries director Vikki Mossin took Governor Parkop and Sir Mekere with others during a tour of their new liquor shop where most of its products are on the shelves |
The country biggest Gerehu suburb in the Nation’s capital has been a hive of developments and investments in a wide range of sectors including merchandising, real estate, manufacturing, retailing, tourism and hospitality, and others.
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| Governor Parkop taking a closer look at a packet of coffee manufactured by Vitis Industries whilst Housing and Modernization Minister John Kaupa and Rigo MP Lekwa Gure look on |
One such remarkable infrastructure is the grant opening of Mosin Plaza on a Wednesday evening of August 8, 2018 at Gerehu stage two.
This is just a month after opening of Bismillar-owned new service station and a grocery shop on top of all the news roads the National Capital District Commission has redeveloped and constructed.
They include Nigibata Road, the Bill Skates Highway (the Badihagwa-Gerehu to 9-Mile).
It signified double celebrations for the Mossines, Dr Sergey of Russia and Vikki of Central province’s Rigo district-with their 1500 staff.
The first being the Mosin Premium beer has recently scooped a beer award in Australia and Germany; the second is the opening of the mall.
The three-storey shopping mall houses a bakery, restaurant, liquor shop, esi-pay kiosks, ATM lobbies and others.
Operating in the country for 16 years, the manufacturer of beverages and alcohol, Mosin and Vitis Industries finally fulfilled its dream of having a shopping mall.
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| Operations Manager of Mosin Plaza Rico Silang with Governor Parkop on the elevator inside the shopping mall at Gerehu stage 2 |
It will also help to provide the avenue selling its own products on the shelves.
In the words of director Mrs Mossine, it was a breakthrough despite struggles along the corridor of ventures and land acquisition.
In her written speech, it took the Mossines almost half a decade to materialise the idea into reality, taking shopping with family to a whole new level and experience.
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| The Mosin and Vitis Industries owner Vikki (second from left) and Seyger Mossine (far right) with Commerce Minister Wera Mori, NCD Governor Powes Parkop, Moresby North West MP Sir Mekere Morata and Rigo MP Lekwa Gure at the Mozin plaza opening in Gerehu on August 8, 2018 |
The company exports its products to markets in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand and Pacific nations, according to her.
Parliamentary members from both the Opposition and the Government converged at the event. Sir Mekere Morauta, former Prime Minister and Moresby North West (where the store is sitting on), NCD Governor Powes Parkop, Housing and Urbanisation Minister John Kaupa, Trade, Commerce and Industry Wera Mori, and Rigo MP Lekwa Gure were present to witness the opening.
Speaking at the occasion, people’s governor Parkop said in a new trend there are many denominating factors attributed to the development boom in the area.
He pointed that the relocation of the main wharf from the Fairfax harbour to Motukea, his policy on suburb upgrade and the new four-lane highways, amongst others have provided economic opportunities for businesses to invest there.
Since taking office in 2007, he said, under this policy he was keen on developing suburbs in the city into sub-cities.
Mr Parkop, a long-term resident of the suburb, brushed aside negativity about Gerehu, saying he had invested millions of Kina to upgrade the suburb sealing most of the ring or street roads to attract investors and for residents to enjoy high quality of life.
According to him, as a result, Gerehu is becoming an investment hub as it is connected by new four-lane roads from 9-Mile through Gerehu to Motu Koitabu villages and Gerehu intersection to six.
He commended the company and others operating in the suburb to partner him in realising his dream into reality.
He added that his policy had made progresses saying: “I am inpatient for more change.”
Governor Parkop further stated that he had plans to free up parts of the Gerehu recreational park to a potential investor to build another shopping mall to further light up the suburb.
He also applauded the company for having confidence in that side of the city changing the dynamics of investment.
“The suburb has a huge population. Creating jobs and income opportunities for them has been a challenge. However, this massive investment will change the equation,” he told the event.
The building, he said, is a testimony of their commitment.
This mall will provide shopping and recreation for residents to a new level, he uttered.
Sir Mekere also thanked them for choosing to invest in his electorate, sharing their investment with his people in terms of income and job opportunities.
Minister Mori challenged the Mossines to diversify their investment, saying he will make sure land is available for the company to branch out in his Chimbu province.
Minister Kaupa urged the residents to take ownership over the plaza and look after it portraying a positive picture to lure more of such in the future.
Mr Gure added a new favour to the speeches, urging employees to maintain high standard of work ethics and loyalty to the employer.
He call was extended to communities there to promote rule of law, so investments flourish in that part of the city.
I also witnessed the opening ceremony. After four days, from Morata I decided to take a car ride, with my wife -via the new Morata-Gerehu four-lane road- down to the plaza to experience the first-hand feeling of shopping in the world-class mall.
I have learnt that the prices of many items are competitively low in yet a perfectively air-conditioned environment with elevators.
I recommend fellow residents to choose Mosin Plaza in your next shopping.
The new Gerehu-Morata to Waigani Road will be opened this Thursday adding to the boom tally.
Author Reference: Wanpis Ako has graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Public Relations from the University of Papua New Guinea. He has briefly worked with two daily newspapers of Papua New Guinea-The National and Post Courier. His work experience has been extended to the Prime Minister's Media Unit and the office of Parliamentary Opposition Leader of Papua New Guinea- not to mention the Ministries of Treasury, Higher Education, Communications, Information Technology and Energy. He has got over five years experience in digital marketing, branding, public affairs, media and public relations.
