PNG assists Smaller Island States

PNG Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Rimbink Pato, says the Government has approved over 300 million Kina for setting up and running of a Smaller Island State office in Port Moresby.

Mr Pato revealed this at the 45th Pacific Islands Forum in Palau when addressing le

aders of the Smaller Island States.

He says an initial 10 million Kina for building the office while the 300 million Kina will be for the long term running of the office.

Minister Pato says the move is to put the new framework for Pacific regionalism and integration into action.

He says the establishment of the office will enable smaller island states to have a presence in PNG as well as to take advantage of the emerging economic and trade opportunities to be brought about by the LNG project

The Government will consider the SIS office as a diplomatic compound, housing diplomatic representatives of the SIS.