PM O’Neill Thanks Japan’s Outgoing Ambassador for his Support to Development in Papua New Guinea

The Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O’Neill CMG MP, has extended his best wishes and thanks to the outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Morio Matsumoto, as he prepares to conclude his posting.

Prime Minister O’Neill said Japan continues to make a very important contribution to development in Papua New Guinea.
“A number of jobs have been created through the projects that Japan has undertaken in Papua New Guinea, and these projects have delivered long-lasting benefits to the people of our country,” PM O’Neill said.
“This has been particularly apparent in education projects that have helped rural communities.
“Japanese development support has created a number of opportunities for our people and communities while Ambassador Matsumoto has been in Papua New Guinea.
"Ambassador Matsumoto has also worked hard to promote Japanese investment in Papua New Guinea and we very much appreciate his commitment to advancing economic ties between our countries.

“We are working together to expand LNG sales to Japan and this benefits both countries.”
The Prime Minister said there is great potential for expanding Japanese tourism in Papua New Guinea and there is ongoing work being undertaken to create additional direct flights and develop tourism infrastructure.
“There is a lot of interest from Japanese tourists to come to Papua New Guinea.
“This is for cultural visits, and importantly, visits to memorials and resting places for Japanese military personnel who died in World War Two.
“There are a number of very important historical sites that people from Japan would like to visit.
“Papua New Guinea will always extend our highest respect for Japan’s war dead and the monuments that have been erected to honour their memory.
“To increase the opportunities for people to visit, we are talking with investors who are looking at hotel projects that will cater for the needs of Japanese tourists and we hope to see developments start before too long.”
Finally, Prime Minister O’Neill thanked Japan for its support to Papua New Guinea hosting APEC in 2018.
“Papua New Guinea thanks Japan for its contribution to APEC preparations, and I have asked Ambassador Matsumoto to extend my appreciation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for his confirmation that he will attend the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby in November 2018.”