By JOEL K ANDREW
THE Papua New Guinea Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) IV (2023-2027) that was launched last Friday in Port Moresby, basically focuses on policy and legislative reforms.
These policy and legislative reforms substantiate the national government’s twelve (12) focus areas to ensure the country’s Vision 2050 remains aligned and prioritized going forward.
The Vision 2050 outlines the country’s long-term goal of becoming a middle-income nation by 2050.
Strategic Economic Investment, Connect PNG Infrastructure, Quality and Affordable Health Care, Quality Education and Skilled Human Capital, Rule of Law and Justice, National Security, National Revenue and Public Finance Management are some focus areas that are consolidated in the MTDP IV.
During the official launching of the MTDP IV, Prime Minister James Marape strongly emphasized the importance of the plan and its immediate action needed from all relevant government departments and agencies.
“The MTDP I was launched in 2011 followed by MTDP II. However, MTDP II was not fully developed as it was a two-year strategy, thus the government went straight into MTDP III in 2018,” PM Marape said.He said PNG experienced a much bigger growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the last twenty years as exports grew by 162%, however, the real employment for locals in the country grew by only 2%.Marape said the government is now focusing to relate to vision 2050 as the MTDP IV comes at a very interesting juncture of PNG’s life and progress, which is the 50th anniversary of the country.
“My statement on the Black Richest Christian Nation when I became Prime Minister in 2019 is not out of sync but is rather very much consistent.
“It is now time for PNG to be economically independent in this decade,” PM Marape said.He said the four fundamental aspects of the MTDP IV are consistent with the focus of building on the three MTDPs previously launched and used by former governments. “These fundamental aspects are appropriately entitled to national prosperity through growing the economy.
“My Government will be outsourcing, monitoring and evaluating the MTDP IV so that the spending and focus is a bench mark, as PNG’s economic base will be broadened, revenues increased and values being added to PNG’s strategic assets. “With an intention to build a K200 Billion economy in this decade, we are now looking into creating a million-job opportunity for all Papua New Guineans purposely to improve the quality of lives for all citizens,” Marape said.
The Prime Minister urged all government departments and agencies to realign their work and corporate plans with MTDP IV to work collaboratively and effectively with the national government in ensuring that productive outcomes are reached.PM Marape also indicated that the National Government will be setting up an independent body called “National Monitoring Authority”.
He said this authority will be checking and monitoring all government arms to make sure that the government delivers expected outcomes as ambitions captured and outlined in the MTDP IV.
“Each of the government department and agency is advised to realign their work and strategic plan so that resourcing for next year’s budget and the three more budgets coming up after 2024 are funded in total alignment to the plans in MTDP IV,” PM Marape reiterated.Meanwhile, PM Marape thanked all PNG’s strategic partners in the likes of Australia, China, India, Japan, USA, Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, France, European Union, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Fiji and all Pacific Island Nations for their continued support. He assured them that PNG looks forward for a continual partnership so that the 12 key focus areas and the building walls of the MTDP are achieved for the advancement of this nation.
Marape further acknowledged all the provincial governments, district development authorities, and local level governments for their continued support as well.
PM said provincial governments are very important players as they are a subsidiary bodies providing national governance in their respective provinces throughout PNG.“Your roles will be amplified, augmented and supported because Pangu Government initially implemented the Provincial Government systems in 1974.
“We will ensure that all provincial governments will be empowered to do services and functions at their level in delivering better to our people throughout the length and breadth of the country.”
