Govt assured of support

By DALE LUMA
PNG’s bilateral partners and donor agencies will continue their supporting role for the government to deliver infrastructure developments, two such partners say.
The Australian High Commission and Asian Development Bank (ADB) during the launching of Connect PNG 2020-2040 road policy yesterday in Port Moresby gave their assurances.
Australian High Commissioner Jon Philp said Australia would work towards the government’s priority of getting 50 per cent spending on development and infrastructure.
“We recognise that high-quality infrastructure projects are vital for economic prosperity in any country and certainly in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“We want to be a responsible development partner, that’s very important to us.
“We will work on the PNG government’s priority and work on getting 50 per cent of development money on infrastructure.
“Last year it was just over 42 per cent, the year before, over 45 per cent and we hope to do better this year striving towards that 50 per cent.” ADB said the future and in response to PNG’s development goals, it would increase its total financing to K2 billion across 2020 to 2022.
The current programmes included new infrastructure projects in the transport sector that will benefit the poorest and most remote parts of the country.
The bank said this would drive inclusive growth, improved basic services, increased regional connectivity and resilience to climate change.
It will also work with other donor partners to develop a response to economic downturn and create resilience to external shocks for the country.
The Connect PNG 2020-40 road network policy will unbundle PNGs economic potential through infrastructure which will diversify the country’s economic base, says Prime Minister James Marape.
It is estimated that the programme will boost the economy that will generate more than 2 million jobs, equivalent to 20 per cent of the country’s population and grow more than 1000 small to medium contractors into national contractors into the future.