The Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK) has officially cleared a monumental milestone in its long-standing quest to establish a permanent home,following a rigorous procurement process initiated since November 2024.

KIK has been awarded a Certificate of Compliance by the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Office, signed off by the Secretary of Finance Mr. Samuel Penias and the Chief Executive Officer of the PPP Center Mr. Raula Galewa.

The KIK Managing Director, Mr. Alan Aku speaking on behalf of the Board, Management, and staff said, this historic regulatory approval paves the way for KIK and its selected private developer to construct a landmark 23-story, state-of-the-art office building at its prime location on Cuthbertson Street, downtown Port Moresby. Under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) framework, the developer will finance and construct the tower, operating it for a 15-year period before full ownership of the modern asset is returned entirely to KIK.

For years, KIK’s vision for a dedicated headquarters faced severe bottlenecks. The institution endured a long cycle of failed government Public Investment Program (PIP) submissions and countless unsuccessful funding requests from successive governments. Refusing to let budgetary constraints stall progress, KIK leadership pivoted toward innovative financing, aligning with the national government's push for private-sector collaboration through the PPP framework.

The rigorous selection process, which began nearly two years ago, adhered to the highest standards of transparency, governance, and commercial viability required by the PPP Centre. Receiving the Certificate of Compliance validates KIK’s strategic vision and confirms that the project delivers immense value for money to the public and the state.

The Marape-Rosso Government’s support has been instrumental in enabling KIK to progress this landmark development. Located in downtown Port Moresby, the 23-storey, multimillion-kina Coconut Tower represents a significant investment in the future of KIK and the coconut industry.

The new headquarters will provide KIK with a modern, permanent base to strengthen its operations, support industry development, and better serve the coconut stakeholders and community.

As a high-value commercial asset, the development will also strengthen KIK’s long-term financial sustainability, allowing future revenues to be reinvested into its programs, including initiatives to support coconut growers and expand downstream processing. The project therefore represents not only a new headquarters for KIK, but a strategic investment in the continued growth and sustainability of the coconut industry.

KIK is indebted to the undivided support of the Agriculture Minister Hon. John Boito and the Prime Minister Hon. James Marape in allowing KIK’s PPP proposal to be deliberated and signed off by the National Executive Council in August 2025.

Groundbreaking timelines and further architectural details of the 23-story building development will be officially announced by KIK and the development partners in the coming weeks.