Partners vital for growth

NATIONAL Planning and Monitoring Minister Charles Abel says the Government relies on partnerships with the private sector and civil society organisations to achieve development aspirations.
Abel highlighted that the Government could not achieve all its development aspirations on its own.
He said there were many success stories of such partnerships that should be told and promoted during a three-day forum in Port Moresby.
Two of the companies he highlighted as Government partners were ExxonMobil for energy and Oil Search in the health sector.
Abel made the remarks during the national development forum themed “showcasing achievements: “Government fulfilling development aspirations and improving service delivery through strategic partnerships” in Port Moresby yesterday.
The Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) National Development Forum has occurred every year since 1998, along with four regional development forums.
The forum provides an opportunity for the Government to say what it has been doing and for the community to raise their concerns and priorities on a range of development and governance issues and priorities.
Abel said: “It is so important that Government commits to a space for listening to and interacting with civil society and I am proud in my time as planning minister under the O’Neill-led Government that we have reinstituted the CIMC forums and council.
“I want to reiterate that the CIMC dialogue process is the primary interaction point for Government with civil society and remains important to the Government as a means through which to promote openness in policy formulation, better understanding of social issues and partnerships to promote improved delivery of social and economic programmes.
“I want some of these success stories to be promoted in the forum because I know there are many. We want to hear these stories, promote them and tap into the energy and commitment you have to help Government deliver its objectives and commitments to its people.”