US associates to improve electricity network for New Guinea
Business
By
Reuters and Valentine Kondo
| Nov 18, 2018
The United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday said they would work together to ensure most of Papua New Guinea had access to electricity by 2030 as Western allies respond to China’s growing presence in the Pacific.
“This high level partnership forms part of the enduring economic and security partnership between our countries,” the Australian and PNG governments said in a joint statement, saying they would create projects to boost electricity access to 70 percent of the population from 13 percent currently.
Leaders of the four nations met in PNG’s capital, Port Moresby, at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit to unveil the initiative.
The four countries signed the pact at the APEC forum in the capital Port Moresby.
The move comes amid growing Western concerns about China’s increasing influence in the region through its Belt and Road initiative.
READ MORE
Treasury to cut borrowing, spending on shortfall in revenue collection
State to shut down 25 entities, privatise others in new reforms
Why Kenya must move fast to invest in digital rights security
State, workers' pay tensions cloud function
Why the super-rich are ditching commercial property investments
S Sudan Central Bank Governor Rallies East Africans to Invest in Juba
Co-op Bank lines up billions for women-owned SMEs after German loan deal
Construction players protest state's bid to tax mining sector
Insurance sector players to explore use of AI in deepening uptake
Sugarcane farmers accuse AFA of 'siding with cartels' as prices drop
US vice president Mike Pence confirmed that the US and its associates are committed to developing the county in every way possible.
Pence said, "the commitment of the United States to this region of the world has never been stronger."
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reiterated that taking electrical energy to Papua Guinea would change the state.
According to the United Nations Country Statistics data 2010, Papua Guinea has a population of about 7.4 million people with statistics indicating that about 21 percent have access to electricity.
- State to shut down 25 entities, privatise others in new reforms
- Sugarcane farmers accuse AFA of 'siding with cartels' as prices drop
- Forget miraa: Discovery of minerals stirs up Meru locals