19 September 2014
Signing ceremony reaffirms Australia – PNG transport infrastructure partnership
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Papua New Guinea's Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Hon. Charles Abel (left) with the High Commissioner, Ms Deborah Stokes (centre) and the Minister Counsellor- Development Cooperation, Mr James Hall, during the signing. |
Australia and Papua New Guinea have reaffirmed their partnership to support jobs, trade and access to services by improving PNG’s transport infrastructure.
In a signing ceremony with the Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, the Hon. Charles Abel MP, Australia committed almost K900 million over five years to continuing the PNG – Australia Transport Sector Support Program (TSSP).
The signing ceremony occurred at the Australian High Commission on 18 September.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Ms Deborah Stokes, said: “Papua New Guineans need a safe and reliable transport network to achieve sustainable economic growth and to connect people with schools, health care, markets and jobs.
“Australia assists PNG to respond to these needs through the TSSP. Together we have rehabilitated 2000km of national priority roads each year, improved safety for air travellers and introduced better safety standards for small marine craft.
“In the future our partnership will complete more complex road rehabilitation, rebuild four bridges in Oro Province and expand road maintenance in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.”
The rolling work plan includes long-term maintenance contracts on the Highlands Highway, a scoping and design study on the Ramu Highway and a major training and equipment upgrading project to improve air navigation and traffic control systems nationwide.
The TSSP works across the land transport, aviation and maritime sub-sectors, with direct support provided to PNG Government agencies including the Department of Transport, the Department of Works, the National Maritime Safety Authority, PNG Air Services Limited, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Accident Investigation Commission.
The TSSP builds the capacity of local contractors to support economic and private sector growth. The program uses private contractors to implement road rehabilitation and reconstruction projects, which are tendered out through the Central Supply and Tenders Board.