By MATTHEW VARI
Transport Minister Ano Pala,
met with his Australian colleague and
Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development and Deputy Prime Minister
of Australia to bolster cooperation across both transport sectors. Papua New Guinea’s ties with
Australia were bolstered with the first meeting of transport Ministers of the
two nations since the new Australian Government was elected. The meeting took place at the
Annual PNG/Australia Transport Senior Official’s Meeting, and was the first
time that Minister’s joined senior officials at that forum. “With PNG our closest
neighbor a strong and close relationship is important for the whole region,”
Minister Truss said. Truss congratulated Minister
Pala on the recent launch of the PNG National Transport Strategy. In addressing the forum
Minister Pala said that the PNG transport sector to strive to deliver the
National Transport Strategy, to be resilient and respond to adversity in a
positive and productive manner. "Officials need to
actively coordinate, monitor, evaluate and adjust strategies where the need is
identified." "Our people are relying
on you to substantially contribute to the development of our young and
ambitious nation.” “I cannot understate the
importance of our meeting so early in the Abbot Coalition Government’s term,” Mr
Pala said. Both Ministers acknowledged
the close and warm relationship both at the political and official’s
level. “As neighbors and friends it
is vital we continue to cooperate closely and enhance the capacity and
capability of our transport systems." “I look forward to future
meetings between our nations," Minister Truss said. Minister Pala thanked the
Australian Government for their ongoing development assistance to PNG, and
acknowledged the strategic importance of the transport system in delivering
economic benefits to all Papua New Guineans, the majority of which reside
outside the major city centres. “I applaud the efforts of our
Sectors in developing new Guidelines that ensure that PNG transport sector
senior executives are at the forefront of project development, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation,” Minister Pala said. The Transport Senior
Officials' Meeting is an annual meeting between senior Australian and PNG
transport officials to discuss challenges facing both countries' transport
organizations and to discuss capacity development projects managed under the
Australia-PNG Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Transport Sector. It is co-chaired by Secretary
Roy Mumu, Department of Transport and Secretary Mike Mrdak, Australian
Government Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.
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