Munidubu

This November marks 47 years since a Papua New Guinea company, Remington Office Machines (PNG) Pty Ltd, acquired the assets of the American-owned office equipment division of Sperry Rand Corporation of New York. Sperry Rand, a major American equipment and electronics company, had previously acquired Remington Rand, which operated a local branch in PNG under the same name. The local company eventually took over its assets, and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, Remington Group Papua New Guineais a market leader in office machines, printing, and related services in Papua New Guinea.

The company’s head office at the time was located on Munidubu Street in Konedobu, directly opposite the iconic Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (visible on the right in the photograph, across from the stadium).

During the 1960s and 1970s, Konedobu was the equivalent of modern-day Waigani in Port Moresby. It was a bustling hub for government offices and business houses, and Munidubu Street played a key role as a center for commercial activity. Today, it still remains significant, hosting prominent organizations like the Investment Promotion Authority, the Intellectual Property Office of PNG and on the social front the iconic Aviat Club.

The name “Munidubu” reflects the landscape surrounding the area. In the Motu language, “Muni” refers to a hill, while “Dubu” translates to rock or stone. Together, the name aptly describes the area’s defining feature: a rocky hill.

As for Remington, while the original company no longer exists in its initial form, its legacy lives on in the modern business landscape of Papua New Guinea. One of the most pleasing initiatives I have seen by this company is the “Loyal 2 Local” program – a community program designed to encouraging consumers and businesses to buy local and boost the local economy.