For people who don't believe O'Neill and the coalition have changed things much for the better, you need to look at things like the ADB's coming visit. The respect for O'Neill, the strength of the coalition, the demand that department heads perform or get out and the recently passed extension of the grace period to 30 monhs from 15 have quickly heightened confidence in what PNG is doing and the confidence that investing in PNG will be a much better hing than ever before. The ADB has worked with PNG for a long time but with China pledging funding for specific projects, ANZ recently praising png for its quick progress and bright future, etc this visit by the head of ADB probably means much more than in the past. Being that this article was from Friday, this guy will be there this week.
ADB top exec to visit PNG
Source:
The National,Friday 08th of February, 2013
ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) vice-president Stephen Groff will arrive in Papua New Guinea next week to visit project sites and discuss the bank’s assistance programme with top government officials.
Groff, who is responsible for ADB’s operations in East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, will meet with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Treasurer and ADB Governor Don Polye and other senior government officials and development partners.
They will discuss ADB’s work in infrastructure improvement, private sector development, economic management and regional cooperation, as well as opportunities to further strengthen the bank’s country partnership strategy with PNG.
ADB’s current assistance programme in PNG is focused on transport infrastructure in the highlands region road network, national ports, maritime safety, and civil aviation.
By improving customs and quarantine facilities along PNG’s border with Indonesia ADB is promoting regional cooperation and integration, while building more climate resilient roads is helping PNG to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
“Together with the government of Australia and other partners, ADB is helping PNG improve the quality and coverage of its health services, and boosting access to financial services in remote and rural areas through its microfinance expansion project,” the bank said.
