Australian Minister to visit Papua New Guinea

The Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Concetta Fierravanti will visit Papua New Guinea from 14 to 17 December.

This will be her first visit to Papua New Guinea as Minister for International Development and the Pacific.

She said in a press statement that Papua New Guinea was an important partner for Australia and share close economic ties and interests in a stable and prosperous region.

“I will be meeting Papua New Guinea ministers and officials to discuss how we can better align our development cooperation to Papua New Guinea’s priorities and further strengthen our partnership.”

“While in Papua New Guinea, I will visit the Eastern Highlands and Milne Bay provinces to see how Australia’s $558.3 million development program is making a difference to the lives of Papua New Guineans,” Miss Fierravanti said.

She said Australia gives priority to gender equality and women’s empowerment in its foreign policy, which is reflected in the aid program for Papua New Guinea.

“While visiting the two provinces, I will meet with women leaders and women and men working to end family and sexual violence.”

“In Eastern Highlands Province I will visit an Australian-funded project in the coffee industry that is working to ensure that women coffee farmers have real opportunities to participate in and benefit from producing, processing and selling coffee.”

“In Milne Bay Province I will visit infrastructure and health development projects and discuss with leaders the opportunities for supporting economic growth, including around cruise-based tourism in Papua New Guinea,” she added.

She said she will also visit the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct in Port Moresby to see the progress of this signature initiative of Australia and Papua New Guinea’s bilateral relationship.