MEDIA RELEASE
28 September 2006
PACIFIC INVESTMENT COMMISSIONER VISITS PNG
Robert Carmichael, Australia’s Pacific Investment Commissioner, visited PNG last week on his first overseas trip since being appointed to the post.
During his visit Mr Carmichael met Hon. Paul Tiensten MP, Minister for Commerce and Industry; Mr Loi Bakani, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea and Mr Ivan Pomaleu, the Executive Manager of the Investment Promotion Authority.
The Commissioner also visited the Chambers of Commerce in Port Moresby and Lae, the Australia-Papua New Guinea Business Council, the Business Council of PNG and a wide range of business and government leaders.
The Pacific Investment Commissioner position is a new initiative which is co funded by the Australian Government’s international aid agency, AusAID, and the Australian Trade Commission, Austrade.
Mr Carmichael said: “The position aims to facilitate Australian joint ventures and other investment collaboration in Pacific Island economies.
“This additional direct or joint venture Australian private sector investment in the Pacific region will assist sustainable economic development.
“It will deliver that through job creation and greater career development opportunities, training and skills development and greater community spending. It will also contribute to improved general living standards.”
The initiative complements the broader framework of the Australian Government’s Pacific Regional Aid Strategy (2004-2009) and provides an additional channel to promote economic growth and private sector development.
It aims to generate broad-based sustainable economic growth and greater self-reliance for the people of PNG and other Pacific Island economies including Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Tuvalu and Nauru and New Caledonia.
Media Inquiries: Leigh Arnold, Public Affairs Manager, Ph: 325 9333 ext 275, Mobile: 6893 9811