Australia Boosts PNG Support with $150M Education Investment and Disaster Response Aid
Australia is stepping up its support for Papua New Guinea (PNG), with a significant investment in education and skills programs, and enhanced disaster response infrastructure. This comes as PNG faces challenges in poverty reduction and loan repayment.
Australia will provide $150 million to support PNG's education and skills programs, aiming to empower its citizens and foster growth. This substantial contribution follows a series of budget support loans worth A$3.1 billion since 2020, making Australia PNG's largest bilateral creditor.
In addition, Australia is bolstering PNG's disaster response capabilities with a $25 million investment. This will help PNG better prepare for and respond to natural disasters, a pressing concern in the Pacific region.
Meanwhile, PNG is expected to repay PGK610.5 million (A$223 million) in budget support lending in 2025, highlighting the importance of these loans in PNG's fiscal management.
Elsewhere, Fiji has achieved a notable milestone in public health, becoming the twenty-sixth country to eliminate trachoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. This success story underscores the progress possible through targeted health initiatives.
Australia's commitment to PNG reflects a long-standing partnership, with investments in education, disaster response, and health. As PNG works to reduce multidimensional poverty, now affecting almost 57% of its population, such support is crucial. The Albanese government's plans to nearly triple HIV assistance to $10 million in 2025-26 further demonstrates Australia's commitment to PNG's well-being.
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