The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) today signed two loans to fund air services in PNG. The two loans amounting to almost $163 million were signed for the newly approved $171.5 million Civil Aviation Development Investment Program Phase 2. The program will upgrade five national airports for better safety and security, improve the power supply at Port Moresby International Airport, and enhance navigation and weather services by installing a standard automatic weather observation system.
David Hill, Country Director for PNG, ADB said: “This innovative program will help boost economic and social development in PNG. Our investments aim to improve connectivity in the country and, in doing so, drive growth in businesses and jobs.”
Program Phase 2 will also focus on upgrading the rural airstrips at Finschhafen, Hayfield, Jacquinot Bay, and Tapini.
The program builds on the successes of the ADB-supported Civil Aviation Development Investment Program, which was approved in 2009 and targeted sweeping improvements to 21 national airports that serve more than three million people in PNG per year. It also strengthened the safety, accessibility, and reliability of air services, and opened new economic opportunities in regional centers.