Envoy thanks province

EASTERN Highlands has been a hospitable province for Americans for more than 60 years, American ambassador Erin McKee says.
“I thank you for good hospitality for American missionaries of Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and New Tribes Mission in Eastern Highlands for over 60 years,” she said.
“We really appreciate the strong working relationships enjoyed over the years, and the 80-plus languages you mentioned is the priority SIL is focused on.”
McKee spoke to Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu during a courtesy call to him soon after her arrival in Goroka for a number of engagements.
She said Eastern Highlands was one province that implemented and translated government policies to achievable outcomes.
“The national level policy and framework are critical but implementation through development, through capacities and economic growth, happens at sub-national level on the ground,” she said.
“The capital city of USA, Washington DC, is not America.
“I know for sure that Port Moresby is not PNG, true it is part of it, but it is important for me to know your beautiful country province by province and understand the opportunities there for the US and PNG to get deep into our engagement and do what we can do to enhance our mutual relationship.”
McKee said Eastern Highlands’ three priorities in agriculture, trade investment and transport infrastructures were important to deliver services.
Numu told McKee that her visit was a “golden opportunity” for his province to boost investments and trade with the US.
He said the people-owned Rumbia Coffee Exports sent two containers of coffee to the US and there was order for two more containers.
Numu briefed the ambassador about the province – as having 700,000 people, being the second-largest province after Morobe, with 11,100sq km of land, and having 80 to 100 languages.
He said the province relied on agriculture, mainly coffee as the major revenue earner and food crops.
“We have the best climate, with few resources.”