Media release
21 April 2010
For immediate release
Australia committed to working with the national and provincial governments
The Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea (PNG), Ian Kemish, and Morobe Governor Luther Wenge had a warm and productive meeting in Lae on 19 April, agreeing on the importance of the close historical friendship between the two countries.
Mr Kemish who was in Lae on an official visit from April 18 to 20, met with Mr Wenge on Monday.
“I am pleased to be in Lae again, a city where I spent more than three years as a child. Much has changed. There has of course been a lot of development in terms of business and infrastructure, and with all this development has come some significant challenges,” Mr Kemish said.
Mr Kemish visited the Port of Lae, and came away impressed with plans for the expansion and development of this facility. The Australian Government is providing assistance and advice to the PNG authorities as they proceed with this important project.
The High Commissioner said it is important that the Highlands Highway is maintained to allow for the smooth flow of people, goods and produce to and from Lae, a city which contributes so much to PNG’s economy. He highlighted Australia’s assistance through AusAID’s funding for road maintenance on the highway, and inspected sections of the Highway where AusAID has been actively involved.
Mr Kemish noted that almost two thousand kilometres of road were maintained in PNG under AusAID funding in the last year.
While in Lae Mr Kemish also met with the Hon. Bart Philemon, the Lae Port Authority, and addressed the Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He visited the Morobe Special Education Centre and the Lae War Cemetery to pay respects to those who fell in the Second World War.
In visiting the Morobe Special Education Centre Mr Kemish emphasized the importance of support services, including education, for the disabled.