Minister for Planning and Implementation

Maru says our population has quadrupled since Independence and continues to grow at an alarming rate of 3.1 percent per annum.

Speaking at the opening of the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) forum today in Port Moresby, Maru said PNG will continue to struggle to meet the requirements of our growing population unless we grow the internal revenue significantly.

He states we need to start planning on reducing population growth to a more manageable and sustainable level in order to access basic government services.

The Summit aims to seek wide stakeholder input and also vital input of global experts on many of our development challenges. This is to assist the government formulate our new Medium Term Development Plan 2018-2022.

In a media briefing yesterday (March 7), Maru said many sponsors have shown interest in supporting the Summit and pledged their commitment.

Maru also announced that international experts will come from India, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and other countries in the region.

“Prime Minister Peter O’Neill will be officially opening the Summit.”