The Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, has become a new partner to the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, the Asian Development Bank announced today, 26 November.

PRIF was launched in August 2008 with the aim to improve infrastructure and services in the Pacific region. JICA will join the ADB, the Australian and New Zealand governments, World Bank Group, European Commission, and European Investment Bank as partners in PRIF.

At a high level consultation meeting in Sydney today, Takahashi Toyama, the director of JICA's Southeast Asia and Pacific Department, endorsed the PRIF Charter, which outlines principles and the partners' commitment to increasing the quality and effectiveness of infrastructure assistance in the region.

"We are excited to be fully involved in PRIF activities and look forward to working with the partners on strategic infrastructure development priorities in the Pacific region," said Takahashi.

The PRIF Coordination Office is funded through grants from the governments of Australia and New Zealand. ADB hosts the PRIF Coordination office in Sydney.

PRIF operates in the 12 Pacific Islands Forum countries, and it supports five economic infrastructure sub sectors, energy; telecommunications; road, aviation, maritime transport; waste management; and water and sanitation.

Tonga's 2013 National Infrastructure Investment Plan, which outlines Tonga major initiatives in economic infrastructure , energy, transport, water, telecommunications and solid waste management  over the next five to ten years which was launched in September was prepared with technical support from PRIF.

The PRIF Coordination Office provides Pacific governments with comprehensive and coordinated support and technical advice on infrastructure development and investment, and supports national development goals of Pacific nations by helping to ensure infrastructure investments are well-designed and managed.