Awareness Workshop promotes Papua New Guinea – European Union trade relations

Mr Ernest Mona Abel - Trade Affairs and Investment Facilitation

 Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to Papua New Guinea

delivers a presentation on behalf of the EU Delegation to members 

of the private sector."- Photograph courtesy of the Department 

of Trade, Commerce and Industry

A private sector awareness workshop on the Economic Partnership Agreement concluded between Papua 

New Guinea and the European Union was recently organised by the Department of Trade, Commerce and 

Industry with support from the European Union Delegation. 

The workshop aimed to raise awareness on the trade agreement, which provides for completely free market 

access for all products made in Papua New Guinea. 

The workshop was the occasion to gather input from the private sector in preparation of the 4th meeting of 

the EPA Trade Committee scheduled to take place in in Brussels from 23 – 24 June 2015. Minister for the 

Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry Hon. Richard Maru will attend the EU – ACP joint trade 

ministerial and meet with the European Union Commissioner for Trade HE Mrs Cecilia Malmström. 

EU Ambassador Martin Dihm in his opening remarks expressed the Union's commitment to further 

strengthen the Union's trade relations with Papua New Guinea (PNG), "The European Union seeks to 

encourage and support private sector in Papua New Guinea to contribute to responsible, sustainable 

development. We stand ready to help with the improvement of the policy environment for the private sector 

so that it is easier to trade, invest and create many more jobs, while respecting environmental and social 

standards". 

"The main objective of the workshop is to raise awareness on the trade agreement between Papua New 

guinea and the European Union and to inform companies and business organisations to better understand 

how the Union's trade system is organised, in particular the procedures to follow when exporting to the its 

markets".

Ambassador Dihm said 'the trade agreement (EPA) has delivered strong benefits in terms of investments and 

jobs for Papua New Guineans with exports increasing considerably following the conclusion of the Trade 

Agreement five years ago'. The European Union is currently the single largest importer of Papua New Guinea's non mineral exports in 

particular, agricultural and fishery products. 

Two presentations were made during the workshop, on the state of play of EPA implementation and on an 

Export Helpdesk available to Papua New Guinea exporters seeking to get information about markets, 

procedures and conditions in Europe. The website address open to all to use is, 

http://exporthelp.europa.eu/thdapp/index.htm.

The workshop was attended by representatives from PNG Business Council, Manufacturing Council of PNG, 

EU PNG Business Council, PNG Palm Oil Council, PNG Forest Industries Association, PNG Fishing Industries 

Association, Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council, and individual company representatives in 

the palm oil industry, fishing industry, timber industry, manufacturing industry, agriculture industry, Exxon 

Mobil and representatives from government agencies and department - Investment Promotion Authority 

and the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry.