Working on the highway
David James reports that the Asian Development Bank is increasing the amount of finance available to PNG. Among the projects, it is backing the upgrade of the Highlands Highway.
“The financing is there. It provides some predictability and yet flexibility. Once the program starts, if things are not going well, we can adjust the design so that it is more effective so we make sure the money is well spent.”
Hill says the ADB’s focus is in the transport sector, the energy sector and, more recently, in public sector management and the health sector.
“In the next three years, we have over $US1 billion available for financing. We are really scaling up the amount of financing we are making available to Papua New Guinea.
“In transport, we have built about 600 kilometres of roads. We have disbursed about $US180 million principally in hydropower generation, transmission and distribution.
“We have a very successful civil aviation development investment program where we have been upgrading the terminals, the runways and the safety features of the airports in the country.”
Hill says the ADB is assisting in redeveloping Jacksons Airport and upgrades of regional airports. It also has a microfinance project, mainly in the Western and Sepik provinces.
The bank is also in the concept stage for a proposed $US600 million power sector project focusing on renewable energy