Public Private Partnership (PPP) has been recognised as a means to move forward and progress work in overcoming various challenges to connectivity development in the Asia Pacific region.
This was highlighted at the two days Southwest Pacific Dialogue (SwPD) 2nd Sub-Regional Workshop on connectivity development which ended on a high note today in Port Moresby.
Acting deputy secretary policy for Foreign Affairs, Kapi Maro during his closing remarks said the outcomes of this workshop should contribute to ongoing work on how to address the challenges.
Over the last two days, the presentations and discussions focused on the theme “Promoting public private partnership in connectivity development”.
Maro noted that the deliberations reaffirm the importance of connectivity in the region as a means to bring about tangible development in the respective countries and the region as a whole.
The SwPD aims to facilitate the exchange of views between the Foreign Ministers of the participating countries, New Zealand, Australia, Timor-Leste, PNG, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Maro highlighted the existing challenges and gaps in the three pillars of connectivity development as identified include physical, institution and people to people connectivity.
Existing challenges and gaps identified at this workshop or in previous meetings include economic feasibility, capacity constraint and political will.
“The outcomes of this workshop should contribute to ongoing work on how to overcome and address to various challenges to connectivity development.
“PPP has rightly been recognised as a means to move forward and progress work in these areas.
“This is ongoing work for all of us as delegates attending this workshop.
“We reaffirm to finalise the outcome report of this workshop as part of that ongoing work going forward,” Maro said.
The outcome report will be completed and circulated at the end of April to all participants.
Maro wished the participants every success as they return to their respective countries.