As it struggles with Covid-19, Papua New Guinea has been promised more financial and infrastructural help from Japan and the World Bank
PNG Prime Minister James Marape speaks to his Japanese counterpart Yoshide Suga during a virtual online summit, 29 June 2021. Photo: PNG PM Media
Worlds Bank approves support package for PNG
The World Bank Board has approved a 100 million US dollar package to support PNG in its response to Covid-19.
PNG continues to struggle with widespread community transmission of the virus, with over 17-thousand confirmed cases and climbing.
The World Bank says the finance will help safeguard routine health services in PNG while delivering the rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations.
It says its package will also lay foundations for a sustainable economy recovery, with help for livelihoods of vulnerable households
The Bank says it will help provide financial assistance to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises for job protection and ease the tax administration burden on small businesses.
Japan pledges more help to PNG
Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has pledged his country's ongoing support to PNG's electrification programme which was announced during the 2018 APEC summit in Port Moresby.
He gave this assurance to his PNG counterpart, James Marape during a Virtual Online Bilateral Summit between the two leaders this week.
The electrification scheme, supported by Japan, the US, Australia, and New Zealand, aims to bring electricity to 75 percent of PNG by 2030.
Suga said Japan had also decided to provide PNG with construction equipment for road development.
This is addition to direct budgetary support Japan approved for PNG earlier this year with a $US285 million loan.
Marape said Japan's ongoing support was greatly appreciated in PNG.
He noted that a visit to his country by Japan's Foreign Minister last year, despite the pandemic, was a sign of Japan's friendship.
Japan PM speaks with 6 Pacific leaders
Suga has this week spoken, separately, with six Pacific leaders, seeking their cooperation in Japan's aims for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The six nations - Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu and Vanuatu - were promised Japan's continued support in tackling the pandemic.
Suga also pledged to hold a "safe and secure" Olympics next month.
The calls came ahead of a virtual summit this Friday when 18 Pacific island nations and territories, including Australia and New Zealand, will meet with Japan.
Meanwhile, in a surprise withdrawal, Samoa's caretaker government has announced that the country's athletes will not be competing at the Tokyo Olympics.