MEDIA RELEASE
12 March 2009
For immediate release
NEW FACILITIES TO BOOST NRI’S REGIONAL STANDING
The Australian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Chris Moraitis, and the Minister for Higher Education, the Hon Michael Ogio, CMG, OBE, today officially opened new buildings and facilities at the National Research Institute (NRI) in Port Moresby, valued at more than K7 million.
Funding for construction of the new buildings came from the Australian aid program’s PNG-Australia Incentive Fund, to support the Institute’s aim to be the leading research authority in the country and the Pacific Island region on policy-oriented issues and development trends.
“We recognise that the NRI is PNG’s major ‘think tank’, and plays an important role in informing government and civil society on issues like HIV and AIDS, environment, and land mobilisation,” said Chris Moraitis.
“This occasion marks more than just the opening of new buildings. It’s about creating an environment where staff of the Institute and researchers can take their performance to new levels.”
Included in the development is the construction of a research library and information communication technology centre, a 2-storey office complex, a seminar and conference facility with bookshop and cafeteria, and a printing and production facility.
Dr Thomas Webster, Director of NRI, said, “It’s our aim to provide greater public policy support to the Government’s development initiatives as set down in the Medium Term Development Strategy, and these facilities will give us the capacity to do it.”
Mr Moraitis said that the Incentive Fund, through which the new NRI facilities were built, has had a major impact on the lives of millions of Papua New Guineans.
“So far the Incentive Fund has provided more than K100 million to 39 projects across 15 provinces over a period of 7 years,” said Mr Moraitis.
“This has included the Mt Hagen and Paiam Town markets; new and improved facilities at Alotau General, Mt Hagen, Kimbe and Kudjip Hospitals; and work at Divine Word University and the PNG Maritime College.
“It has built 155 new houses for teachers, it built 132 new classrooms and 11 school libraries, it provided over 1,000 dormitory beds for schools and universities and created over 600 new places for young women in schools and much more.”
More information about the Fund is available at: www.cidsharepoint.net/APNGIFund
Media Inquiries: Anna Awasa, AusAID Public Affairs, Ph: 325 9333 ext 304,
Mobile: 655 5706