ADB: Changes causing delays

THE change in Government this year has affected implementation of some Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded projects in Papua New Guinea, country director David Hill told The National yesterday.
Hill said the change in Government led to the change in the minister responsible had been the main issue.
“For instance, we were trying to do a PPP (public private partnership) project and we had taken everybody on a study tour to Cambodia and the Philippines in early May,” he said.
“The minister for civil aviation and other people who were key to making decisions about the project.
“Then the Government changed, the minister changed and then everybody needed to be informed again on all things to get them up to speed.
“There’s been some minor delays.”
When asked on the status of the Civil Aviation Development Investment Programme (Cadip), Hill said the progress on some airport redevelopment launched this year was pending appointment of a permanent board for National Airports Corporation (NAC).
“The Cadip programme has been more delayed this year due to changes in the NAC board,” he said.
“The (term for) NAC board expired in August.
“Right now they have a temporary managing director and they haven’t appointed a permanent board.”
Hill said once a permanent board was appointed, they will progress on the Cadip programme for some of the airports throughout the country.
According to ADB, the bank is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
Last year, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to US$21.6 billion (K72.14 bil).