PNG to build a robust relationship with Indonesia: Minister Maru
MInister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru will be leading a trade delegation to Indonesia at the end of March this year and is anticipated to work on developing a very strong, deep, and robust relationship with Indonesia.
Maru has pointed out that Indonesia is the country PNG should have focused on building a trade and investment relationship and a stronger political and economic cooperation with but that has not happened over the past years.
He said the government through the oversight will now take full advantage of the leadership provided by our Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape who visited Indonesia in 2022 and the recent visit by Indonesian President, Joko Widodo last year and his offer of aid and other support to our country.
“Indonesia is home to more than 260 million people and with GDP of about US$1 trillion it is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 16th largest in the world.
"Indonesia’s economy has accelerated over the past 10 years, with GDP growth averaging more than 5.7 per cent a year. Their major industrial sectors include petroleum and natural gas, textiles and apparel, mining, footwear, plywood, rubber, and chemical fertilizers.
"Indonesia has so many multibillion and multimillion local companies in all sectors of their economy and they have very sound policies that have really contributed to the growth of their economy.
Maru believes that the work to really deepen PNG's relationship with Indonesia will happen when he leads the delegation to Indonesia to meet their new Government and Trade Minister.
He said this trip will create a platform for two countries to build a person-to-person relationship and business-to-business relationship, visit their industries, meet some potential investors, and to learn from their policies in mining, petroleum, downstream processing, and policies on trade and industry.
"This year I want to firmly establish the PNG-Indonesia Business Council on both sides, have the first ever Papua New Guinea Trade and Investment Conference hosted in Indonesia this year, and start working to bring some of their very good policies that helped to transform their economy to our country.
" We will also invite Indonesia to host a Trade Fair in Papua New Guinea. We want to also start the process towards building a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.
"We are happy that we have air services now, but we need to focus on very good shipping services between our two countries. I am very keen for all these to happen.” Maru added.