The process to realign the New Zealand Aid programme is timely.
This was emphasized by the Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Richard Maru this week.
The minister made this remarks sighting the government of PNG’s medium term development plan 3 in the horizon, and the near conclusion of the PNG- New Zealand Joint Commitment for Development at the end of 2018.
He stressed that this was necessary to get the best value of support that is strategically building on the comparative strengths of New Zealand in the area of education.
Returning from his recent visit to the Victoria and Auckland Universities and the Manukau Institute of Technology in New Zealand, Minister Maru said this is a key task for both governments to lead up to the high level bilateral consultation in the later part of 2018.
The Minister stressed on the importance of higher education engagement and establishing sister universities between both countries as an important way forward.
He said PNG will be inviting the New Zealand universities of Victoria, Auckland and Manukau Institute of Technology during 2018 to explore partnership with PNG universities and the feasibility of setting up campuses in PNG.
He adds that an MOU that was signed in 2013 by Prime Minister and the Victoria University will be revived to further the commitments and implementation arrangements.
“The scholarship program in the New Zealand Aid Programme is a fundamental support from New Zealand and building on that we intend to focus the programme on Post Graduate (which is) only and steered towards the academia,” he said.