THE US has joined the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF), joining the Asian Development Bank, the governments of Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, the European Union, the European Investment Bank and the World Bank Group in supporting the facility, which aims to improve infrastructure and services in the Pacific subregion.
State Department director of East Asia Pacific and Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs (ANP) Nicholas Dean said they were excited to be fully involved in PRIF activities and looked forward to working with their partners on strategic infrastructure development priorities in the Pacific region.
“We recognise the PRIF Charter, which outlines principles and the partners’ commitment to increasing the quality and effectiveness of infrastructure assistance in the region.”
Mr Dean led a delegation from the US Departments of State and Interior and the US Agency for International Development at the meeting.
ADB’s Pacific Department director general Carmela Locsin said the US joining PRIF would foster deeper co-operation and co-ordination among partners on infrastructure development in the Pacific.
“The strong co-operation between PRIF partners allows all of us to leverage each other’s experience and knowledge to help Pacific countries improve infrastructure services and development outcomes for their people.”
The PRIF Co-ordination Office is based in ADB’s office in Sydney, Australia and is funded through grants from ADB and the governments of Australia and New Zealand.
Since 2008, PRIF partners have worked closely with Pacific governments to co-ordinate development partner assistance to improve the quality, reliability, and availability of critical infrastructure in both rural and urban areas.
