EU invests K3.5mil in PNG

 By MALUM NALU

THE European Union has given K3.5 billion to Pa­pua New Guinea since 1977, according to its head of delegation to PNG, Ambassador Martin Dihm.

This includes K456 million for the period from 2008 to 2013. He said this during the launching of the PNG EU brochure “Forward in Partnership” in Port Moresby yesterday which outlined a new EU aid allocation covering the period from 2014 to 2020.

The occasion was witnessed by Minister for Finance and acting Minister for Education James Marape, visiting United Kingdom Minister of State for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire, public servants, members of the diplomatic corps, and members of the private sector.

Dihm said the EU-PNG cooperation had come a long way since the establishment of the union’s delegation to PNG in 1977.

“At that time, we started our cooperation in just one area, with development cooperation,” he said.

“From the outset, we have worked in close partnership and through the government of Papua New Guinea.

“Our activities have helped in many different sectors such as rural development, infrastructure, health, mining, or education.”