An Australian-funded technical college has been launched in Papua New Guinea following a commitment by Prime Minister John Howard to assist Pacific countries with vocational training.
Diesel mechanics will be the first students to undertake training at the college, which was officially launched in Port Moresby on Monday.
Howard's technical training commitment was made two years ago amid Pacific Islands pressure on Canberra to accept seasonal migrants to pick Australian crops.
Howard rejected the idea at the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in PNG in October 2005.
But he announced Canberra would fund an Australia-Pacific Technical College at sites across the Pacific to train islanders in technical vocations.
At the official launch, Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Chris Moraitis, said the first PNG graduates would help address critical skills shortages.
The college would boost job opportunities and economic growth, he said.
"The courses are not duplicating or competing with existing training, rather complementing that training," Moraitis said.
The college has $A150 million over four years for technical training in PNG, Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa, and an extra $A10 million to fund student scholarships.
Some 3,000 students from across the South Pacific are expected to graduate from the college over the next four years.
It will mainly work through existing government and commercial training institutions.
The college will seek to provide higher level courses and ensure graduates are skilled to Australian-accredited standards to meet employment needs in the region.
The focus in PNG will be on welders, refrigeration and air-conditioning electricians, metal fabricators, plumbers and carpenters.
Through the college, manufacturing, construction and electrical training will be undertaken in partnership with PNG's Sustainable Development Fund and Ok Tedi Mines in Tabubil.
In Port Moresby, Ela Motors and Hastings Deering will be bases for automotive and heavy vehicle training in conjunction with Port Moresby Technical College.
At that college, the Australian program will build a 9.3 million kina ($A4 million) metal fabrication, electrical, carpentry and joinery workshop.
In Vanuatu, tourism and hospitality courses are already under way through the Australia-Pacific Technical College.
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