MTDP4 LAUNCHING
AT THE APEC HAUS, PORT MORESBY, NCD
07
July 2023
Foreword By Prime Minister
It is my honor as Prime Minister, to introduce Papua New Guinea’s Medium Term Development Plan IV 2023-2027. The MTDP IV has been framed to incorporate the Government’s development agenda to grow the economy to K200 billion by 2030, double country’s internal revenue, double exports revenue, and create one million new jobs. We will continue to pursue our aspiration to become the “Richest Black Nation” and reach the “middle income” country status by 2023 with a GDP per capita of K14,000.
Over the past 47 years, we have encountered challenges and learnt lessons that are now being used to inform change. The unity of our people, despite being a country of a thousand cultures, remains strong. Our thriving democracy is a firm attestation of our resilience as a people. As we reach our 50 years Golden Jubilee, we will overcome the tyranny of our remoteness by connecting every community through the Connect PNG Program either by roads, sea, air, electricity, telecommunication, satellite, or e-government system. My Government is confident that under the development mantra of “Take Back PNG” we will drive the development of the country for the next 50 years.
As a country we have progressed despite the challenges. However, the dynamics of modern-day geopolitics demand that we transform our economy to remain globally competitive. It is critical that we benchmark our development charter against global standards, or risk being left behind. Districts and provinces will be resourced in this medium term to build their socioeconomic infrastructure and minimum service standards across all sectors. This will reduce the existing disparity in resource allocations and ensure that there is equity in resource distribution for development. We will continue to respect the independence of the institutions of government so that they take responsibility to deliver the services to our people as designed and intended.
I call on all government agencies, development partners, private sector, civil society and faith-based organizations to align and work together to achieve the objectives of this plan. Let us be smart and vigorous in our quest to build a resilient economy. To my fellow parliamentarians, it is incumbent to carry out our duties with ownership, pride and commitment.
Let us work together to Take Back PNG.
God Bless Papua New Guinea
Hon. James Marape
Prime Minister
Statement by the Minister for Finance and Planning
The presentation of Papua New Guinea’s Medium-Term Development Plan IV 2023-2027 (MTDP IV) is an achievement for this Government. MTDP IV is informed from the previous MTDPs and sets the strategic policies for the Government for the medium term. The Government is announcing 12 Strategic Priority Areas (SPAs) as pillars for MTDP IV). These SPAs set the framework for all stakeholders to translate our aspirations and development vision.
I am pleased to outline to you the 12 SPAs of the Government.
1. Strategic Economic Investments
2. Connect PNG Infrastructure
3. Quality and Affordable Health Care
4. Quality Education and Skilled Human Capital
5. Rule of Law and restorative Justice
6. National Security
7. National Revenue and Public Finance Management Act
8. Digital Government , National Statistics and Public Service Governance
9. Research, Science and Technology
10. Climate Change and Natural Environment Protection
11. Population, Youth and Gender Development
12. Strategic Partnership
The Government will mobilize its investment under the 12 SPAs through the various deliberate intervention programs (DIPS) to grow the economy and transform the lives of the people.
The Government is promoting trade and investment at the back of a strong natural resources sector. Our minerals and petroleum resources, agricultural and natural resource commodities are to be processed onshore to international standards, adding greater value to meet the global demand and maximize gains for our country.
Deliberate intervention program such as Connect PNG including transport, electricity connectivity and others are critical pre-conditions for economy to be vibrant and competitive.
As a Government, we will deepen our engagement with development partners including the private sector, civil society organizations and NGOs to achieve maximum development results. We will support these efforts and open up to strategic service delivery modalities that can deliver investments on time and on budget.
We are reaching 50 years as country by 2025 and we need to be innovative and progressive in this changing world. We must digitalize our economy and ensure our financial and information systems are secured and reliable. It is the Government’s intention to see a Papua New Guinea that is economically strong and competitive. We are adamant to step up our efforts to create a conducive environment and make PNG as preferred investment destination.
Let us stand together, work together, be innovative and have the right to transform our beautiful nation to one that is known and design.
Hon. Renbo Paita, MP
Minister for Finance and Planning
