EU spends K7.6bil on development programmes

The National Business

By HEZRON KISING
European Union has spent €2 billion (K7.67 billion) in funding development programmes and projects for Papua New Guinea over the past 40 years since its first establishment, an EU official says.
Head of political press and information Rudie Filon said EU and PNG had been working in a strong, friendly relationship for 40 years with good economic and political relationship.
He said the EU had three pillars that worked in relationship with PNG Government:

  • Political cooperation;
  • Economic and trade cooperation; and,

Technical and financial cooperation, development cooperation
“These are the main foundation EU has considered important and has focused on,” Filon said.
In 2014-2020 EU has funded and will continue to fund:

  • Regional indicative programmes worth €154 million (K590.26mil);
  • Rural development projects worth €85 million (K325.79mil);
  • Water sanitation and hygiene of €33.1 million (K126.87mil); and
  • Formal sector especially on good governance and policy reforms of €26.9 million (K103.10mil) with €9 million (K34.50mil) for support measures.

“In the education sector, about €30 million (K114.98mil) has been allocated to promote human resource development through improving access to quality education system,” Filon said.