Daru, Western Province — Friday, January 17, 2025
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Works and Highways, Hon. Solan Mirisim launched the Western Province Integrated Development Plan 2023–2027 in Daru, with a commitment to align resources and partnerships for sustainable growth and development.
The event, hosted by the Fly River Provincial Government in Daru was attended by key partners from the National Government, the PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP), OK Tedi Mining Limited, and Australian High Commission, reflecting a collective vision for the province’s future.
Governor Yoto commended the support of the National Government, as well as important stakeholders, such as the Australian High Commission, stating Western Province is privileged for the Government of Australia to establish their High Commission Regional office in Daru, Western Province.
The Governor outlined ambitions on a deep-sea port built in Western Province, in the South Fly District, with roads connecting South Fly to Middle Fly and Delta Fly.
“I want to see that Western Province is connected from Daru to Kiunga.”
“Our plan is not overly ambitious. We aim to have healthy, educated people with food on their tables and money in their pockets. This plan represents the collective input of all our partners,” he added.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency John Feakes, reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to Western Province, emphasizing the longstanding ties between the two nations.
“Australia’s partnership with PNG is one of our most enduring relationships. For millennia, our people have traded, hunted, and fished together. These traditions continue under the Torres Strait Treaty, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year,” he said.
“Our modern partnership reflects shared values—better education, reliable healthcare, and greater opportunities for our people. Australia’s investment in Western Province is at an all-time high, spanning health, education, agriculture, law, and infrastructure. We are here for the long term, as neighbors, friends, and equal partners.”
OK Tedi Mining Ltd CEO, Mr. Kedi Ilimbit, emphasized the company’s commitment to maximizing benefits for the province through social investments.
“We are focused on social benefits as part of our extended mine life. However, we believe the 2% currently allocated to the province is insufficient. We urge the National Government to increase it by another 1%,” Mr. Ilimbit said.
PNG SDP Chairman, Mr. Peter Graham, highlighted the organization’s mission to align efforts with the Fly River Provincial Administration’s development priorities.
“We aim to invest in initiatives that provide lasting benefits, helping communities become healthy, educated, and financially self-reliant,” he stated.
He further elaborated on key health and education projects, including drug procurement improvements, support for Flexible Open and Distance Education (FODE), and the establishment of a nursing college in Balimo.
The Chief Justice of PNG the Honorable Sir Gibuma Gibbs Salika, expressed major challenges in the province and acknowledges the work of PNG SDP, the National Government and OK Tedi and added that the province needs more attention and collaborative effort from all stakeholders.
“A lot has been done and achieved, but it is not enough, and one of the factors in my view is that we have a big province.”
“It is too big a province to take care of, so my suggestion is to give another province to Western Province. Give the North Fly Province and South Fly Province.”
“We now have the population in the North Fly, and we have the Population in the South Fly to create two provinces.”
Acting Prime Minister Hon. Solan Mirisim acknowledged the concerns raised and praised the province for aligning its development plan with the National Medium-Term Development Plan IV.
“Western Province is the first to present an integrated plan along with district plans. This alignment is critical for service delivery,” he said.
Addressing the Chief Justice’s call, the Acting Prime Minister assured stakeholders that the government is considering creating additional provinces and districts before the 2027 elections to improve service delivery.
“The Marape-Rosso government sees the struggles of the province, that is why we’ve created another district for Western Province in the last elections. Because we want service to go to the people. In 2027, before we go to elections, we will create more districts, and the electoral commission is working on it,” Minister Mirism said.
“I will brief the Prime Minister when I return, on the call from the Chief Justice to split the provinces. Your call is timely, and the boundary of the province is big, therefore if we split the province, it will bring services to the people’s doorstep.”