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News and Events
| Date |
Events |
| 2008 |
| 13 - 15 May |
Country consultation mission to Kiribati
 Emma Ferguson, Economist (Regional Cooperation) and Thomas Gloerfelt-Tarp, Head of the Project Administration Unit, SPSO, visited the Republic of Kiribati to attend the Kiribati Development Partners Meeting and the launch of the Kiribati Development Plan: 2008-2011. They also discussed with the government the next steps regarding the proposed investment loan for the Outer Islands Growth Center Project.
The team later met the President of Kiribati, His Excellency Anote Tong, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Honourable Natan Teewe, key government officials and development partners. A followup meeting on public financial management assistance with development partners is scheduled later this month. |
| 20 - 25 April |
Review of L1921/ L2088-TUV Maritime Training Project
 Thomas Gloerfelt-Tarp, Head of the Project Administration Unit, SPSO, led a mission to Tuvalu to (i) review the implementation progress of the loan projects, (ii) identify project specific issues constraining implementation, (iii) prioritize allocations so utilization is effective prior to closing of the loan, (iv) review the budget allocations, (v) conduct site inspections, and (vi) initiate discussions to resolve any outstanding issues.
The Mission held discussions with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning officials, the executing agency and other project stakeholders. The project is progressing too slowly and all efforts will be made to assist the executing agency fulfill its obligations. |
| 14 - 18 April |
Country Performance Assessment consultations undertaken in Tonga
 Anqian Huang, Country Economist, led a mission to Tonga to conduct the Country Performance Assessment (CPA). The CPA is a comprehensive and participatory process to review the development progress of eligible Asian Development Fund (ADF) countries. It assesses the quality of a country's policy and institutional framework and measures the extent these support sustainable growth, poverty reduction, and the effective use of development assistance. The Mission met with the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Honourable 'O 'Afu'alo Matoto, the Secretary and other key Government officials, as well as the private sector and donor partners. The results of the CPA are used to determine the ADF allocation through the Performance Based Allocation process. |
| 2-8 April |
Technical Assistance fact-finding mission to Kiribati
 Anqian Huang, Country Economist, led a mission to Kiribati to discuss the medium-term budget framework, public enterprise reform, and capacity development of the proposed technical assistance (TA) on Economic Management and Public Sector Reform. Meetings were held with the President of Kiribati, His Excellency Anote Tong, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Honourable Natan Teewe, other key government officials and development partners, including AusAID and NZAID.
The mission agreed with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development on the objectives, scope, targeted results, financing, and tentative implementation arrangements of the proposed TA. The output of the TA will improve public sector performance including improvement in the financial outcomes of the Public Enterprise portfolio, with a broader improvement impact in resource allocation toward the development outcomes identified in the new national sustainable development plan. |
| 14 - 20 March |
Review of L1530-Third Road Upgrading Project in the Fiji Islands
Richard Phelps, Infrastructure Specialist, led a mission in the Fiji Islands to review the progress of this project. Meetings were held with Government officials, including the Minister of Works and Transport and officials from the Ministry of Finance, National Planning, Sugar Industry and Public Utilities (Water and Energy); the Office of the Auditor General and the Project Management Unit of the Ministry of Works and Transport. The mission noted improvements in the overall progress of the Kings and Lodoni roads sub-project - with 16 bridges expected to be completed by July 2008 and with traffic using the new road alignment of over 30kms by August 2008. The project aims to help Government (i) improve the efficiency of road sector services and increase private sector participation and (ii) improve mangement of road sector assets and sector resources. |
| 18-22 February |
Review of TA4899-Rationalization of Public Enterprises, Phase III Mission to Tonga
Fernando Garcia, Principal Country Specialist, led a mission to Tonga to discuss the overall progress on implementation of TA4899-TON: Rationalization of Public Enterprises, Phase III . The Mission had meetings with the Government officials and the Consulting Team and concluded that the objectives established in the TA are being met and that tasks are on schedule. The TA addresses the rationalization of five public enterprises, including (i) the International Dateline Hotel, (ii) Leiola Duty Free Limited, (iii) the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, (iv) the Tongatapu Machinery Pool, and (v) Tonga Timber. The consultants are also providing assistance to the Ministry of Public Enterprise for the rationalization of Sea Star Fishing Company. |
| 18-19 February |
Consultation mission undertaken in the Cook Islands
 Richard Phelps, Infrastructure Specialist, led a country consultation mission to the Cook Islands. Meetings were held with the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Economic Management (MFEM), the Financial Secretary of the MFEM, other government officials and development partners including NZAID. Discussions focused on the next results-based Country Partnership and Strategy 2008-2012 and on reviewing Government’s readiness and procedures for processing a loan for the Infrastructure Development Project. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Mr. Sholan Ivaiti, Financial Secretary of the MFEM. |
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