Cost of development plan more than K25bil: Maru

OUTGOING National Planning and Monitoring Minister Richard Maru says the cost of the Medium Term Development Plan is more than K25 billion.
“A plan is a plan, but if it is not funded, it would be useless,” he said.
“We have a fantastic plan but you have to find the funds and resources to make it happen.”
Maru handed over the department to Sam Basil on Friday.
“We must raise, find and provide at least K5b each year of the capital budget in the plan,” he said.
“That cannot all come from the national budget. Every year we cut the national budget when cash flow is tight.
“The development budget is always cut and not the recurrent because we have to pay our public servants and keep the operation going.”
Maru said they had reviewed the tax credit policy.
He called on the department officers to focus on bringing a new head of tax credit, get applications in and start processing projects to be funded by resource companies.
“Cash flow is always going to be an issue,” Maru said.
“Focus on tax credit quickly, get the ball rolling and get the projects going. In that way we can get major impacts in implementing key projects. I will do everything to make sure there is funding available.”