Department head urges officers to implement plans

FOREIGN Affairs secretary Barbara Age urged officers from her department to implement the plans and programmes in the corporate plan 2018-2023.
Speaking on behalf of former minister Rimbink Pato at the launching of the plan on Friday, Age said it was an important task.
“I consider this as a very important outcome product and I thank the minister and all those involved in putting together the documents in close collaboration with all stakeholders, including key government agencies and the private sector.
“Our next task is to implement the plans and programmes for action from today until the end of 2023 and ask ourselves what positive difference we can make in promoting our foreign policy.”
Age said the launching of the corporate plan 2018-23 at this time of the year marked yet another excellent outcome by the department in implementing a decision by the government on the foreign policy review report 2017.
She said guided by the experiences from the first corporate plan, and supported by the required level of financial resources provided by the national government through the annual budgetary processes, she was convinced that with the monetary resources support the department would give priority to effectively manage the institutions and human resources both at headquarters and abroad.
“In doing so, we will be able to realise the outcomes on the plans and programmes as well advance PNG’s interest abroad. More so we must commence and where progress, work on some of these important policies and institutional development-related programmes for action under the corporate plan.”
Age said the theme of the corporate plan and programmes for action PNG connecting for peace and prosperity in a changing world was very strategic.
“It clearly signals the internal commitment by our government to advance cooperation arrangements we have with all our global partners, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
“I am convinced and expect the department to give priority to action many of these plans and programmes in the strategic objective relating to institutional strengthening, modernisation and operational process is imperative.
“I encourage the department to actively pursue arrangements to improve the welfare of the Foreign Service officers and their families on housing needs.”
The event was attended by heads of departments and government agencies including, Agriculture and Livestock, Labour and Industrial Relations, Provincial Affairs, Health, Education, Science, research and technology, Defence, Department of Personnel Management and Religion, Youth and Community Development