Strategy to help locals own services, minister says

 By SHIRLYN BELDEN

THE new national transport strategy aims to encourage people to own 51% of transport services, Transport Minister Ano Pala says.

Department secretary Roy Mumu  said last week the plan captured policies associated with service delivery and improvement of services from which the people could benefit. 

Mumu said the plan emphasised the involvement of the private sector in projects and initiatives in which local companies partnered with them. 

“It emphasises the involvement of private sector companies to come in and assist in infrastructure projects,” he said. 

“We are aware that our local infrastructure companies lack capacity.

“That is why we rely on these major companies to come in and partner with our local companies or contractors under the 30% local content policy so that they learn from the experiences. 

“It is a learning ground for the local companies. And for the Government to start improving the local industry, it needs us to start getting them involved.” 

Pala said the creation of the policy by the department was to boost effectiveness and affordable services from the industry. 

The national transport strategy was launched in Port Moresby last week.