By NICOLE JOANNES
The Kimbe market is an example of how Australia prefers to work in partnership with Papua New Guinea, said High Commissioner Jonathan Philp.
The new Kimbe market that was opened last week is a joint partnership with Australia providing K21 million, New Zealand K10 million and the West New Britain Provincial Government K5 million.
High Commissioner Philp said there was strong local leadership from the start not only with funding but with commitment in supporting legislation to establish the market authority, and funding the market management to run its operations.
He said market is an important infrastructure across the region as it brings vendors, mostly women, who come to buy and sell to support their families.
The market was built by Min Pac with 80 per cent of local workforce with K18 million spent in the province.
He was pleased to note that 23 women were involved from the start of construction of the market to its completion working as crane operators, and quality surveyor and a woman manager to manage the operations of the new Kimbe market.
The market also caters for people living with disabilities to have access to the second floor including ablution for those on wheelchairs.
Mr Philp urged the people of Kimbe and West New Britain to look after the market and use it for their economic benefits and a place of unity and sharing with one another.
He said Australia’s partnership with WNB is here to stay to help in the development of the province.
Australia is currently involved with rural electrification, improving health facilities like Bitokara CHP, and Gloucester Rural Hospital, the upgrading and extension of Kimbe Port.
“We will help to improve health facilities including Bitokara and Gloucester and among others the building of a new dormitory for Caritas Girls Technical Secondary School.”
Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, Oil Palm Minister and Nakanai MP Francis Maneke and Talasea MP Freddie Kumai thanked Australia and New Zealand governments and their people for their generosity in funding the Kimbe market.
Governor Muthuvel has also welcomed Australia’s assistance and commitment in the other projects currently being undertaken in the province.