A three-day workshop on the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) is currently underway at the APEC House in Port Moresby.
The workshop focuses on developing a strategic implementation plan for Papua New Guinea (PNG) to advance Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) initiatives over the next 12 months.
Special delegates from the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), donor partners, government heads, and technical officers are participating in discussions to formulate a detailed SIP. The plan aims to prevent PNG from falling onto the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
“This workshop is convened to address important recommended actions that have come off the mutual evaluation report which complied are evaluated whether or not Papua New Guinea has done enough work to compliance to Anti Money Laundering and counter terrorist financing,” Chief Secretary Ivan Pomaleu shared during the media conference at APEC House.
“What we need to do now is to go through the process, identify the key actions that we need to take forward.”
He explained that the National Coordinating Team is a multi-agency group tasked with addressing AML/CTF challenges and assisting in the development of PNG’s SIP.
He noted that AML/CTF is a priority area within PNG’s law and justice sector, which the Marape-Rosso government aims to continuously strengthen.
“I want to stress that the Marape- Rosso Government does not want the country to be sanctioned under its watch. This Government has invested greatly in the AML/CTF work and generally in the anti-corruption work. It will not be fair on the citizens of PNG if the country is sanctioned,’’ Mr. Pomaleu stated.
He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to meet deadlines and effectively execute their tasks, ensuring PNG avoids grey listing.
