Papua New Guinea government and World Bank to sign agreements for rural projects

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

 

The Government of PNG and the World Bank will sign two loan agreements worth over K100 million for rural development projects.

The signing ceremony for the agreements for financing two projects that have significant merits in supporting smallholder agriculture and telecommunications services in the rural areas of PNG will take place on Monday (August 9).

Minister for Finance and Treasury, Peter O’Neill, representing PNG government, and Ferid Belhaj, Country Director, Timor Leste, PNG and Pacific Islands, will officiate at the signing ceremony at Holiday Inn.

The World Bank funds will finance the Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (PPAP) and the Rural Communications Project (RCP) both of which aim to improve the livelihoods of remote rural communities. 

PPAP will assist farmers in adopting improved farming practices, facilitate relationships between smallholder farmers and agribusiness and provide critical infrastructure for market access.

The project will focus on areas dependent on cocoa and coffee productions including East New Britain, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Madang, East and West Sepik, Morobe, Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Jiwaka and Simbu provinces with possible expansion to other areas later.

RCP will provide access to telecommunications in Simbu and East Sepik, and facilitate public internet access in about 60 district centres.

It is expected that more women and youth will benefit from improved access to communications, including for income-generating opportunities.