Maru outlines priorities for outside funding support
MINISTER for National Planning Richard Maru has met with the World Bank and outlined the country’s priorities for concessional funding in line with the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) III priorities.
Maru met with World Bank’s director for Pacific Islands and PNG Michel Kerf last Friday to discuss the Country Partnership Framework.
Maru gave the World Bank six critical areas for long term focus to concentrate funding support on. They include major road infrastructure, youth employment and skills training, budget support, agriculture development, health and district town water supply.
The breakdown were:
- For the major road infrastructure, the government would like the World Bank to: concentrate on the design and building of phase one of the Mamose international highway between Watarais in Markham to Madang; and, start the feasibility study and work on funding for the Gulf to Southern Highlands highway upgrade and sealing programme;
- for youth employment and skills training: World Bank to concentrate on upgrading and expanding our current technical colleges and to assist fund more technical colleges and polytechnic institutions;
- World Bank to assist the government with a long term concessional funding for direct budget support;
- on agriculture development: concentrate on phase two of the productive partnerships in agriculture project (PPAP);
- for health: concentrate on health infrastructure requirements and ensure that Provincial health authorities were well capacitated and can deliver frontline service delivery; and,
- To focus on long term concessional funding for district town water supply projects.