Demonstrating its commitment to the partnership with the United Nations, the PNG Government presented the 99-year Special Purposes Lease of the land allocated to build the UN Haus in the Waigani precinct.
Justin Tkatchenko, Minister for Lands & Physical Planning, presented the lease to Gianluca Rampolla, United Nations Resident Coordinator, in a recent ceremony held at the office of Lands Department.
The issuance of the lease is a milestone for the UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in Papua New Guinea.
The land on which the office complex will be built is in close proximity to the government offices and development partners located in Waigani District, which further strengthens the partnerships to achieve the national development priorities through a collective commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking at the occasion, Tkatchenko said: “We work with people to utilise the land for long term development, it is our responsibility to make sure that it is done correctly and properly for the benefit of everyone.
“It is a pleasure for me to officially hand over the 99-year lease for the land in Waigani City Centre to the UN to build a UN Haus. I am sure the UN will build a nice iconic building.”
Thanking the government, Rampolla said: “This lease symbolises the strength of the partnership between the UN, the government and the people of Papua New Guinea.
“The Green UN Haus will be the house of all Papua New Guineans. It will be designed to aesthetically reflect elements of both PNG traditions and modernity, providing for a new land mark in Port Moresby.
“The Green UN Haus will be built under a public-private partnership model, and will allow important cost and energy efficiencies, we will make use of indigenous materials, environmentally-friendly systems, conservation of water, natural lighting and recycling,” added Rampolla.
“I am very grateful to the Government of Papua New Guinea for its continued commitment to the achievement of the SDGs and to the friendship and partnership with the United Nations.”
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the government, media and the United Nations.