Tuesday, 7 April 2020

Year in Review 2019 - Kikori District – The Next Economic Hub of Papua New Guinea

Where He Is Coming From (Building Up From Ground-Zero)


It is no secret that there are challenges in the district. Therefore, the Member for Kikori has been working hard despite these challenges.
With deteriorated core service delivery infrastructure over the years, it has been a difficult district to work in. Administrative capacity on ground is weak including mismanagement of funds by previous leaders and public servants.
Thus Hon. Soroi Eoe’s priority therefore is to change both the physical outlook of the district as well as the mindset of the people to meaningfully contribute to development initiatives of the district in the years to come.


Above: Deteriorated staff housing at Orokolo Hospital




Above: Deteriorated health center


KIKORI 5 YEAR DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2018-2022


To ensure these basic services reach the district the Member for Kikori with his team prepared and put together a 5-yearDistrict Development Plan 2018-2022. This 5-year development plan outlines a strategic direction where he wishes to see Kikori District to take in the next 5 to 10 years. The Hon. Eoe’s vision is to ensure that the district is socially, environmentally, politically and economically progressive by investing into socio-economic infrastructure and
the human resource thus enabling the citizens to be educated and health to be able to meaningful participants in the development process whilst enjoying the benefits of modernity and in the process bring the district to the next level of development which is: “MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIALIZATION”.

Kikori District Vision is anchored on 6 key building blocks for development and compliments Gulf Vision 2020 and PNG Vision 2050 and they are:
1.       Government Delivery Mechanism
2.      Infrastructural Development
3.      Integral Human Development
1.1.1.Health Sector Development
1.1.2.      Education Sector Development
4.      Social Development
5.      Economic and Industrial Development
6.      Environmental Risk Management
The first ever Kikori District 5-year Development Plan 2018-2022 was launched on Friday the 6th of September 2019 at the Laguna Hotel Poolside. This was a historic event for the Kikori District as the district never had an official document in the past.
The guest of honour, Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape officially launched the event with the host-Member for Kikori Open and Minister for Foreign Affairs & International Trade giving his opening remarks thanking staff and all that had contributed to completing the document.
Minister Eoe also thanked the people from the Department of National Planning & Monitoring who assisted the team to align the 5-year development plan to the existing national plans such as the MTDP 3 and so forth. He said “plans are very important as it has a cascading effect from top to bottom….and is a framework in which it can guide development and Kikori is the same. The last 15 to 30 years has seen unplanned development or no development at all simply because we didn’t have plans to guide us so I’m hopeful that this plan will enable us to move forward in terms of resource allocations within this framework and systematically implement what is required of us. Plans are only plans, and if we don’t take ownership it is a useless document that collects dust in the office space of public servants.”

 
Above: 2019 - Prime Minister James Marape launches the Kikori District 5 Year Development Plan


Minister Eoe, appealed to the public servants of the district, the CEO of Kikori District Development Authority and his officers of the 4 LLGs to take ownership of this plan and move and implement it.
The Kikori District 5-year Development Plan 2018-2022 was launched along with two other documents. They are further major plans to develop Kikori District. He highlighted and thanked the Prime Minister and the cabinet for approving the “Special Economic Zone concept which is vital” and more so greatly supported by the Prime Minister himself making it one of the priority projects of the national government.
This creates employment opportunities, expanding economic base thus opening opportunities in areas where there aren’t any services.

Above: 2019 - Hon. Charles Abel receives the Kikori 5 Year Development Plan 2018-2022 on behalf of the Planning Department from Member for Kikori Hon. Soroi Marepo Eoe, MP.


The Member for Kikori since elected into office in 2017 has been involved in
National level political Responsibilities including Department of Community Development, Youth & Religion, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and more recently Department of Public Service. – (Community Development, DFAIT, DPM)

As the Minister for Community Development, Youth & Religion, Hon. Eoe felt that the department had to have its presence felt in the communities to ensure human development in the forefront of nation building. With this in mind, he initiated the Community Development Center flagship to be established in every district with approval by Kikori District Development Authority to counter-fund this facility in the Kikori District as well.

The Member for Kikori also played a key role in establishing a Youth Council in the Kikori district to assist in addressing issues and enhancing youth activities in the district.










With a change to the government, Hon. Eoe was again appointed the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade signaling great confidence in his outstanding performance as a first-time politician and Minister.
Minister Eoe’s representation in New Zealand, Tuvalu, and at the United Nation’s General Assembly in New York where he delivered the Prime Minister’s speech.
Above: 2019 - Minister Eoe & wife met US President Donald Trump and wife during the UN General Assembly in New York

More recently, Minister Eoe visited Hong Kong and China in fulfillment of government policies for attracting foreign investments.

These visits were fruitful as major commitments to developing district infrastructure such as the roads, jetties, bridges and hospitals as well as major national infrastructure and financial assistance were made throughout these meetings.
National Level Economic involvement (Papua LNG Gas Agreement).
o   Papua LNG Gas Agreement Negotiations as a key member of the ministerial team
o   Consultation with IHU & Baimuru Landowners regarding gas agreement signing
Above: Landowner consultation meetings

o   Promoting ISEZ at the APEC Leaders Meeting and in Sydney, Aust. & Port Moresby
Above: 3D model display of the Ihu Special Economic ZoneAdd caption


o   Japanese Project Support, securing K9mil (TBC) for heavy construction equipment


Where He Is Going

Hon. Soroi Marepo Eoe has solid plans moving forward. Here are the focus areas to bringing development to the district;

·         With launch of the 5-year District Development Plan, the focus now is to implementation of these Plan through the development of LLG Ward Plans ensuring the all areas are covered and not left out.
·         A vital component is to complete electrification project (installation of Gensets) by the end of the first quarter 2020. This supports the public service to better carry out their duties in the respective LLG’s.
·         Complete rehabilitation of Ihu and Baimuru airstrips by June 2020
·         Awareness campaign of Land mobilization with regard to the Ihu Special Economic Zone. This better informs the landowners that may be affected by the development that would take place.
·         Completion of feasibility studies of various components of ISEZ
·         With the deteriorated state of most public service housing, the member for Kikori also plans build public service housing. The houses are prefabricated and durable. This guarantees an improved working environment for the public service.
·         With funds been committed in the National Budget and external sources, Hon. Eoe plans to complete the first phase of large infrastructure projects such as roads, Jetties, Health Centers, Markets & Classrooms.
·         Hon. Eoe and his team will also be looking at securing funding for projects and establish management mechanism to implement these projects

Despite the changes in government the Member has performed solidly in the Ministries he has held and holds currently.

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