Landowners in Simberi in the New Ireland province are a step closer to realizing the benefits from the mine project on their land with the Community Development Agreement (CDA) now ready to be signed. The Simberi Mining Area Landowner Association (SMAA) is poised to sign the long-delayed Community Development Agreement (CDA) tomorrow, Friday August 29th in Port Moresby city, in order to unlock the long-promised benefits and services. Originally approved by the National Executive Council (NEC) in 2013 under the then Prime Minister Peter O’Neill's Government, the CDA could not be signed due to issues. Now, more than a decade later, SMAA executives and 31 of its members have formally requested the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) to proceed with the signing, eager to unlock long-promised benefits and services. In response, MRA Managing Director Jerry Garry affirmed the Authority’s commitment to facilitating the signing, in line with its mandate. He emphasized that under Prime Minister James Marape’s leadership, the government is determined to ensure landowners receive greater returns from their natural resources. Mr. Garry highlighted MRA’s ongoing efforts to improve the livelihoods of resource landowners, citing the Woodlark housing relocation project as a prime example. He also briefed SMAA members on the future of the Simberi project and broader government plans aimed at enhancing landowner participation and benefit-sharing. Meanwhile, Over the past four weeks, SMAA executives and 30 members have been in Port Moresby undergoing intensive training, now successfully completed. The program was delivered by three institutions: the Somare Institute of Leadership & Governance (SILAG), the PNG Institute of Banking & Business Management (IBBM), and the Center for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI). SILAG focused on development plan alignment and formulation, IBBM offered courses on influential leadership and governance, while CEFI provided financial literacy training. All sessions were proudly sponsored by the MRA.