MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Today I launched the report Pacific 2020: Challenges and Opportunities for Growth which highlights the key economic growth challenges facing the Pacific and East Timor.
The single clearest message from Pacific 2020 is that the most serious constraint to rapid growth in the Pacific is poor implementation of reform plans and policies.
Successful reform plans and policies are prioritised, realistic, appropriately monitored, based on consultation and strongly backed by the political leadership.
'Pacific 2020' was a process of debate, dialogue and analysis as a contribution to overcoming the challenges facing the region. Around 200 leaders and experts from the region have identified options aimed at producing better growth outcomes.
Australia has funded and facilitated this important consultation process.
Nine growth topics were studied - the productive sectors of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism and mining and the growth enabling sectors of land, investment and private sector, political governance and employment and labour markets.
From this emerged four common themes: governance, infrastructure, integration and implementation.
The report underlines that accelerating economic growth depends on the strengthening of government institutions. Other findings include:
Regional cooperation is crucial to economic growth and further underlines Australia's support for the Pacific Plan which emphasises sharing governance resources and creating deeper and stronger links between Pacific island countries.
The Pacific 2020 report directly addresses issues such as infrastructure, governance and private sector development raised in the Australian Government's recently-released White Paper on Australian Aid.
We look forward to continuing to work with our regional neighbours in pursuit of sustainable economic growth.
Media contacts:
Chris Kenny (Minister's Office) 0419 206 890
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590