The people of the United States of America (USA) continue to show their commitment to Papua New Guinea’s development with the recent signing of funding assistance.
The US through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Department of National Planning and Monitoring signed an Implementation Letter of US $20 million (PGK 71 million) for development activities in the country.
The funding signifies American people’s continuous commitment to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific for sustainable, prosperous, inclusive, secure, and democratically empowered societies, thus strengthening the US-Pacific partnership even more.
Secretary for the Department of National Planning and Monitoring Koney Samuel accepted the implementation letter on behalf of the Government of Papua New Guinea.
At the signing event, USAID Acting Senior Developing Advisor Clay Epperson thanked Secretary Samuel for his partnership with USAID and the United States government on development activities.
“USAID would like to convey our deepest appreciation of your leadership support to our development cooperation and we look forward to deepening our partnership in health, energy, and other areas.”
In appreciation of the funding, Secretary Samuel added that PNG values the contribution development partners bring to complement PNG government’s effort under the Mid-Term Development Plan IV for the next 5 years.
Secretary Samuel and Acting Senior Developing Advisor Epperson also discussed the ongoing projects in Papua New Guinea through USAID funding, and reflected on the increased partnership between PNG and the US.
Moreover, the funding will support HIV/AIDS services for key populations in the country and electrification through USAID’s PNG Electrification Partnership (USAID-PEP).