Govt invests in infrastructure for economic benefits

PRIME Minister James Marape says the Government will focus on investing on infrastructure that will bring economic returns to the country.
Responding to questions from Unggai-Bena MP Benny Allan on the status of the Korefegu Agriculture Industrial Park in Eastern Highlands in Parliament last Thursday, Marape said the project in Eastern and Western Highlands under the previous government would continue to have the full support of his Government. “The park is something that we will not abandon,” the prime minister said.
“It is a programme that our Government will continue and I thank the provincial government and the previous government for initiating the project.”
Marape said it was no secret that his Government’s greater focus was on agriculture because there was a capital flight of more than K3 billion every year going out for imported food which could be produced locally.
“We want to be food sufficient and totally by 2025 in terms of those foods that we can grow in country that we are presently importing, for instance, beef, lamb, rice and others,” he said.
“That’s because every year, there is a capital flight of over K3 billion going out because we are importing.
“So our focus on investment in infrastructure will be on those that will bring some sort of economic return to grow our economy.
“Those that cannot, we need to filter them out.”
Marape encouraged provincial governments and district development authorities to frame their development plans in line with the national government’s policy direction and vision of growing the economy.
“When you districts and provinces submit your development plans and budgets to the National Planning Department, make sure to capture that objective and vision.”