NATIONAL Planning and Finance Minister, Hon. Rainbo Paita says Papua New Guinea remains committed to working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said, this is despite direct consequences caused by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts and other global challenges.
Minister Paita made this remark in his inaugural statement which he delivered on behalf of the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, at the General debate on the High-Level Ministerial Segment of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York this week.
“Madam President, I was privileged to join my Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, to launch our country’s Fourth Medium Term Development Plan 2023 to 2027, with the Theme of “National Prosperity through Growing the Economy”.
“Our Development Plan reaffirms the commitment of my government to accelerate and deliver on the 2030 agenda and it also clearly identifies the measures needed to do so in a more comprehensive, focused, resourceful and accountable way,” Paita told the HLPF.
“To highlight this, as an example, on SDGs 6, 7, 9 and 111, our “Connect Papua New Guinea” flagship infrastructure program was developed to transform the country’s socio-economic landscape by improving connectivity.
“We have launched special economic zones to attract investment in downstream processing, housing projects, and path to a fully pledged digital Government. Let me thank all our development partners for their valued, constructive assistance, support and partnership.”
The Minister said: “We recognize the national need for greater ownership and leadership as well as domestic resource mobilization for national development and to drive forward the SDGs.
“However, to assist developing countries to achieve their plans, including the SDGs, the following are needed: Firstly, we must all have a renewed commitment in delivering the 2030 Agenda and ensure that the resources, including technology, climate financing, needed to deliver on it are accessible, affordable and on timely manner.
“Secondly, there needs to be a fundamental shift towards a new reformed global economic and financial framework that captures all countries development aspirations. The current status quo does not accommodate greater participation and as such a need for this move is required if we are going to achieve these SDGs together. We support this crucial point.
“Thirdly, we need fair, just and equitable returns from our natural resource endowments to be able to support our own revenue raising measures to progress our national development priorities, including on the SDGs.
“This value adding on the resources, will create more jobs and reduce poverty. We therefore encourage development partners and developed countries to assist developing countries with investments in downstream processing in their God given resources. Help us help ourselves.
“Finally, Madam President, let me again, reaffirm our commitment to deliver our national development priorities, including on the promise of the 2030 Agenda. On a greater scale, our common purpose must prevail.”
He said common pursuits must outweigh individual ambitions with greater action, less generic political discussions and more collective but meaningful steps in the next remaining seven (7) years.
“We have to dive deeper beneath the surface of political correctness and honestly admit the need for an open and strong partnership in addressing not just global issues but country issues that we can resolve together.
Meanwhile, Minister Paita thanked the Madam President, for the strong leadership and for the valued partnership among all stakeholders in the Forum.
“Hearing from your opening statement has given me a glimpse of hope on a renewed energy to drive actions,” Paita said.
He also commended the energy and intention in the words of the speakers particularly from Hungary, Cuba, Ireland, Qatar and Morocco which have had an impact on his view that countries are serious about the need for greater ACTION.
