The Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister says much of his annual meeting with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop focussed on changing the approach to how aid is provided.
Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
Rimbink Pato says the meetings were constructive and covered a wide range of topics including assistance in the preparation of the APEC summit in 2018 and a review of the faltering Australian Federal Police assignments.
Mr Pato says the main thrust though was moving the approach of Australian aid to more of a trade focus.
"Issuance of visas. What kind of funding should be provided to private enterprises in the delivery of, for example some of the aid funding, how should they be better aligned to promote private sector investment but at the same time delivering those key outcomes for PNG in the areas of health, education, development and law and order."
