PNG signs deal that can help agriculture and fisheries

PAPUA New Guinea yesterday signed a three-year agreement with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community to pave the way for resource support in various sectors including fisheries, agriculture and education.
Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato says the agreement marks a new era of cooperation.
SPC is a technical organisation, recognised for its scientific and technical expertise, and for how it applies its expertise in responding to the specific development needs of its members.
Pato said the three-year agreement with SPC will now be a basis on which to build a new era of cooperation.
“I’m pleased that the Melanesian Pacific Island Forum nations are in the forefront and let this be an opportunity for our people to understand and know that SPC is ready with technical know-how in planning, education and all sectors of the country.”
Their consultations in PNG included discussions and the need for organisations to align better with the SPC because PNG contributes resources funding each year.
“We need to benchmark what is the return on our investment in the SPC.
“The different agencies of government need to align better with SPC so they can do their work necessary on environment, climate change, education, fisheries, and management of the oceans,” Pato said.
SPC director-general Audrey Aumua said the agreement is a reflection of the very important relationship with the Papua New Guinea government and process with other countries in the region.
“The process has been going off a couple of months and identification of the important key priorities for the government of PNG which is aligned with the Medium Term Development Strategic 3.
“A number of those priorities include oceans and fisheries, maritime boundaries, women in maritime, educational quality, agriculture, livelihoods food security and nutrition,” Aumua said.