K9.2mil grant to boost airport work

THE Japanese government has provided a K9.2 million grant for works on Tokua Airport in East New Britain (ENB).
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Soroi Eoe thanked Japanese ambassador Nobuyuki Watanabe for the assistance in Port Moresby on Friday.
The Japanese government also provided a K15.6 million grant for works on the Rouna 3 hydropower station that serves Port Moresby.
Watanabe said the grant would be for heavy equipment and plant to the National Airports Corporation at Tokua and the East New Britain department of works, to conduct maintenance of the roads near Tokua.
The equipment will consist of a tractor, ride-on mowers, push lawn mowers, brush cutters, a backhoe, and line making machines, among other equipment and will be delivered to NAC at Tokua Airport and the provincial works division.
Eoe said the Government in its Vision 2050 and medium-term development plan 3 planned to transform ENB into a tourism hub as well as foster growth in its agriculture and fisheries sectors to diversify the economy by creating additional revenue streams.
“This equipment will contribute towards the maintenance and safe operations of the Tokua airport, which is a critical infrastructure forming part of this transformation,” he said.