Institute briefs minister about programmes

THE Papua New Guinea National Research Institute (PNGNRI) last week briefed the new Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and Sports Minister Wesley Raminai on the institute’s eight key research programmes.
The institute’s acting council chairman Wilson Thompson briefed the minister during a campus visit.
While congratulating Raminai on his recent ministerial appointment, Thompson gave details on the PNG knowledge hub precinct development and how the institute was positioning itself to support the Marape Government going forward.
“The institute’s research is organised under eight research programmes aimed at addressing the key economic and social issues afflicting PNG, as laid out in the PNG Vision 2050, Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030, the Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) and other relevant and topical development issues,” he said.
Thompson said in providing advice on better public policy outcomes and improved service delivery, the research team also engaged in policy development and analysis in collaboration with key Government agencies such as the 2019 National Land Summit with the Department of Lands and Physical Planning, Department of National Planning and Monitoring and Department of Treasury.
He said the institute’s key contribution to the public policy analysis had offered the popular annual economic policy analysis course since 1989.
Thompson said the institute remained focused to ensure its work addressed PNG’s long-term development challenges.
Raminai pledged to support the institute during his term and embraced the challenges faced by the institute in terms of staffing and budget cuts.
“My ministry is big but I will try my best to lead the coordination of the institution towards better outcomes,” he said.