PAPUA New Guinea remains concerned about our overall slow progress in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as a direct consequence of the unprecedented pandemic, ongoing conflicts and other global challenges However, despite this, PNG remained committed to working towards achieving the SDGs.
Minister for Finance and Planning Rainbo Paita said this as he addressed the ‘General debate on the High-Level Ministerial Segment of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) under the auspicious of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) building momentum towards the 2023 SDGs Summit: Transformation for accelerating implementation of the SDGs’ in the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
“Our development plan reaffirms the commitment of my government to accelerate and deliver on the 2030 Agenda and it also clearly identifies the measures needed to do so in a more comprehensive, focused, resourceful and accountable way.”
To highlight this, as an example, on SDGs 6,7,9 and 111, our “Connect Papua New Guinea” flagship infrastructure program was developed to transform the country’s socio-economic landscape by improving connectivity he added.
“We have launched special economic zones to attract investment in downstream processing, housing projects, and path to a fully fledged digital Government. Let me thank all our development partners for their valued, constructive assistance, support and partnership.
“We recognise the national need for greater ownership and leadership as well as domestic resource mobilisation for national development and to drive forward the SDGs.” He added; “1-SDG 6- Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 7 – Affordable Clean Energy; SDG 9- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.”
“However, to assist developing countries to achieve their plans, including the SDGs, the following are needed;
“Firstly, we must all have a renewed commitment in delivering the 2030 Agenda and ensure that the resources, including technology, climate financing, needed to deliver on it are accessible, affordable and on timely manner.
“Secondly, there needs to be a fundamental shift towards a new reformed global economic and financial framework that captures all countries development aspirations.
“The current status quo does not accommodate greater participation and as such a need for this move is required if we are going to achieve these SDGs together. We support this crucial point.
“Thirdly, we need fair, just and equitable returns from our natural resource endowments to be able to support our own revenue raising measures to progress our national development priorities, including on the SDGs,” he said.
“This value adding on the resources, will create more jobs and reduce poverty. We therefore encourage development partners and developed countries to assist developing countries with investments in downstream processing in their God given resources. Help us help ourselves.”
Mr Paita said; “Let me again, reaffirm our commitment to deliver our national development priorities, including on the promise of the 2030 agenda. On a greater scale, our common purpose must prevail. Common pursuits must outweigh individual ambitions. Greater action, less generic political discussions and more collective but meaningful steps in the next remaining seven years.
“We have to dive deeper beneath the surface of political correctness and honestly admit the need for an open and strong partnership in addressing not just global issues but country issues that we can resolve together.”
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