First development forum for Southern Highlands

SEVERAL Southern Highlanders are pleased that the first-ever development forum for the province was organised in the province last week. 
The forum was organised by the Southern Highlands provincial government and Governor William Powi.
Several senior public servants said the forum had attracted many stakeholders, chief executive officers, departmental heads and government and businesses representatives.
They said it was important to learn the different tasks each development partner and stakeholder contributed to the development of the province.
They also appreciated the opportunity to learn initiatives and programmes they had to assist in the development of the province in partnership with the provincial government.
Provincial administrator Ungia Kembo said the development of the master plan for the province was a new chapter in the development of the province.
A youth leader of Lower Mendi, DeeJay Embia, and town manager Steven Temo also praised Powi for his vision to move the province to another level.
Embia said he was impressed to see high profile people who were partners to development attending the conference and sharing ideas on how to help develop the province.
“I have lived in Mendi for a long time but I have never seen such an important gathering and I’m very impressed. We now see where the governor is coming from to address development needs in the province,” he said.
Temo said the forum also helped businesses in the province, as people from around the country at the event could see for themselves that Mendi was not as inhospitable as some claimed.