|
Post Courier
Thu, 18 Mar 2010
PORT MORESBY, PNG ----- Papua New Guinea (PNG) will be transformed from being a low-income to a middle-income prospering nation by 2030.
This was the bold prediction by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare who said the diversified country’s achievements since independence had progressed to now being at the threshold of major economic development.
He said this when tabling the inaugural PNG Development Strategy Plan 2010-2030 in Parliament. The new plan is preceded and kick-starts his Government’s Vision 2050 that was launched during the last sitting in December 2009.
In a concerted move, National Planning and Monitoring Minister Paul Tiensten, who spearheaded the strategy, followed through with a supporting statement detailing the set targets to be achieved within the 20 years.
Mr Tiensten said under the plan PNG will by 2030:
* Quadruple its gross domestic product (GDP) from the current K23 billion per year to K98 billion;
* Sustain real term economic growth at 8 per cent;
* Create more than two million additional jobs;
* Reduce crime by 55 per cent causing private investment to increase by K2.5 billion a year;
* Avail 20 per cent of traditional land for commercial use to result in an increase of K12.7 billion in national income; and
* Increase tax revenue from K6 billion (current) a year to K33 billion.
He said the plan was the only one that had been modelled to enable leaders to provide clear policy directions towards achieving these common goals.
“The heart of the plan is to revolutionise the under-developed rural poverty corridors of this country into rural economic corridors. The development of economic corridors will transform the poverty corridors of rural PNG into service hubs.” he said.
Both Sir Michael and Mr Tiensten made predictions over the overall development future of the country. They included building 25,000 kilometres of good road network to be achieved from the current 8000km.
For the energy sector, 70 per cent of the population will have access to electricity from 12 per cent currently. They said 500,000 HIV/AIDS victims are to be saved, and agriculture output will be five-fold, 80 per cent of forest products will be processed and exported.
In addition, Mr Tiensten said PNG will become the tuna capital of the world as it doubles its revenue from taxes and fees plus tripling its manufacturing output.
Sir Michael described the 20-year plan as a landmark achievement from his government for the country since independence.
“The PNGDSP 2010-2030 provides the guide to a successful and prosperous future for all citizens of this country,” Sir Michael said.
He said the next 20 years would be most crucial for the country.
|
