ADB

The ADB has been involved with PNG’s development for 50 years, and is PNG’s largest multilateral funding partner.

The comments were in the context of a meeting on Wednesday between Prime Minister James Marape, Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey, Finance Minister John Pundari, Works Minister Michael Nali, Health Minister Jelta Wong and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director, David Hill.

The total financing of $13.3 million comes from ADB’s Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund and comprises $1 million for the Cook Islands; $1.5 million for Kiribati; $630,000 for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI); $1.03 million for the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM); $1 million for Palau; $3 million for Papua New Guinea; $1.5 million for Samoa; $1.5 million for Solomon Islands; $630,000 for Tuvalu; and $1.5 million for Vanuatu.

The ADB's Pacific Urban Update 2020 report details a swathe of urban infrastructure projects that are planned or under way across the region.

ADB Pacific urban division director Jingmin Huang said the report showed how the bank was partnering with island governments, private sector and donor partners.

"And also, this report is very good to help us better understand our position in urban development and then based on that it would help to guide our future development direction," she said.

ADB Country Representative, David Hill, has signed an agreement with Treasurer, Charles Abel for the funding to be released to the Emergency Controller.

The grant is made available through the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF) and will be used for the immediate expenses for relief efforts.

Abel thanked Hill for the assistance and support to PNG.

The APDFR has made funding available to countries such as Tonga, Fiji, Philippines, and Nepal during disaster.

The contract which was signed today between PNG Power Ltd and a Pestech will see the design, supply, construction and commissioning of the Kilakila substations infrastructure.

The PNG Government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded substation will make it possible for a transformer to be taken off the line without causing any disruption to connect consumers and will have a power evacuated capability of 20MVA under normal operation.

The signing of the $US27.29 million (K88.79 million) project was between the Climate Change Development Authority as the executing agency and the Office of the Coastal Fisheries Development Agency as the implementing agency.

This climate adaptation project is funded by the Government Investment Fund and is administered by the Asian Development Bank.

The BRCC project will be rolled out in five provinces; Milne Bay, Manus, Morobe, East New Britain and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Governor Sasindran Muthuvel on Thursday presented a cheque of K500,000 to the YWAM.

The funding was for the medical ship to bring the health services closer to the people in Bali Witu, Kandrian Coastal, Gasmata , Kove Kaliai and Gloucester and Kandrian Inland areas where they have not received any proper medical services.

“For the first time, we can address through this arrangement to carry out various medical operations such as dental operations and many other medical treatments.”

Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch signed the deal with the Asian Development Bank’s Country Director Marcelo Minc on Thursday October 6, 2016.

The loan is part of the ongoing US$400 million (K1, 196.17m) multi-tranche financing facility road program that was approved since 2008.

These programs will address 2,500km of major national, provincial and some district roads and improve the capacity of National Roads Authority (NRA) and Department of Works to deliver quality road infrastructure. 

Accompanied by WNB Governor Sasindran Muthuvel and Central Bank Governor Loi Bakani to various projects in the province, the delegation were impressed with the progress of the projects in the province.

The delegations comprising of two representatives each from IFC, World Bank and the Asian Development Bank visited the Hoskins Airport, 66kv power line project from Bialla to Kimbe, 12 bridges along the New Britain Highway, the bio gas plant generating 3megawatts power at Mosa and the Kumbango and oil mill operations.

RNZ reports SOE portfolios in eight Pacific countries examined contribute only 1.8% to 12% of gross domestic product, despite having very large asset bases, ongoing government cash transfers, and monopoly market positions.

The ADB said productivity levels of the SOEs were also well below that found in developed countries.

But the Bank noted some successes in pursuing commercially-oriented reforms.

It said that over the past 14 years Solomon Islands has improved significantly, with Tonga also doing better.