PNG embarks on $73m maritime project
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed a loan worth $41.5 million to fund the Maritime and Waterways Safety Project which will help improve navigational aids, allowing ships to travel more safely through PNG's largely unchartered and often unsafe waters. The signing ceremony was attended by Don Polye, Treasurer, the Government of Papua New Guinea, Marcelo Minc, Country Director of ADB's Papua New Guinea Resident Mission, and Chris Rupen, General Manager/CEO of the National Maritime Safety Authority. Yasuhiro Yamauchi, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Papua New Guinea witnessed the ceremony, as the ADB-administered Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) supported preparatory work for the project. With over 600 islands spanning a total sea area of over 3.1 million square kilometers, PNG relies heavily on its network of coastal shipping services. The reliance of coastal communities on shipping services is amplified by the country