Australian High Commission
Papua New Guinea

MR 070207 Lae

MEDIA RELEASE

7 February 2007

For immediate release

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISIONER MEETS BUSINESS LEADERS IN LAE

 

The Australian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Mr Chris Moraitis, stressed the importance of private sector investment in a speech to the business community in Lae today.

Speaking at a business breakfast hosted by the Lae Chamber of Commerce, he said: “Ultimately it is private sector investment that will drive economic growth, including through its role in increasing entrepreneurial capacity.

"Through the aid program, Australia supports the private sector to generate growth through a number of programs and economic growth is an area that we want to put more emphasis on in our new five year development strategy with PNG. However, there are no off-the-shelf answers for how growth in PNG can be boosted.”

During his speech, Mr Moraitis also highlighted the importance that the Australian Government places on matching funds and good governance in its dealings with national and provincial governments.

He went on to discuss Australia’s support to PNG’s Provincial Performance Improvement Initiative through the Australian Government aid agency, AusAID.

He said: “In PNG’s decentralised system, the provinces and districts have a crucial role to play in front-line service delivery.

“In order for service delivery improvements to be felt in the villages, provincial and district level capacity requires support and development.”

During his visit to Lae – his first since being appointed High Commissioner to PNG – Mr Moraitis also met political figures, visited business premises, toured Igam Barracks and visited the offices of the National Agricultural Research Institute.

 

Media Inquiries: Leigh Arnold, Public Affairs Manager, Ph: 325 9333 ext 275, Mobile: 683 9811 .