Japanese Ambassador visits Bougainville

Wednesday, 17 April 2024, 11:45 am

Japan's Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Nobuyuki Watanabe flew into Buka this morning for a two-day visit of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Ambassador Watanabe is welcomed to a traditional ritual in Buka-feet washing known as "tsutsu" (Picture Source: Steven Busin)

Ambassador Watanabe flew in on an Air Niugini Dash 8 aircraft around 9am Bougainville Standard Time.

The Ambassador was met at Buka Airport, by the ABG Minister for Community Government, Theonila Roka Matbob, the Deputy Chief Secretary Operations Esther Usurup and the Secretary for Department of Primary Industries, Kenneth Dovaro.

Ambassador Watanabe is taking some rest now and will pay a courtesy call on President Ishmael Toroama at 2pm this afternoon.

Ambassador Watanabe's visit is purposely to open an innovation hub building in Hahela on Buka Island.

This building is the latest Japanese development contribution to Bougainville.

The Japanese Government, through the JICA, had initially funded and built up to 20 bridges along the Buka-Arawa Highway in early 2000 - a substantial contribution to infrastructure and transport sectors.