PNG invites Indonesia for first-ever PNG-Indonesia Trade meeting

PNG Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru has invited Indonesia to host the first-ever and historical PNG - Indonesia Trade Meeting in Jayapura, Indonesia, later this year.

Minister Maru made this invitation through Indonesia's Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Adriana Supandy last Friday.

PNG invites Indonesia for first-ever PNG-Indonesia Trade meeting 

He said if Indonesia agrees to have the trade meeting, then they can put together an agenda for the meeting, as well as a technical working committee, to organize that meeting.

Mr. Maru said PNG's trade team will not only be made up of Government departments and agencies, but also representatives from the three provinces of East and West Sepik and Western Province.

He said he will be meeting with the Indonesian Trade Minister in his follow-up trip to Jakarta after the trade meeting in March, to have their first bilateral meeting.

Mr. Maru added that this meeting is to discuss Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s visit to Papua New Guinea this year and hold initial talks on working together to develop a framework to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.

Minister Maru said he wants President Widodo to come with the private sector of Indonesia to hold their first Indonesian Trade Fair in Port Moresby, where big companies of Indonesia can come and promote their products, including their banks.

He said the trade fair will enable Papua New Guineans to know which products Indonesia produces and sells as well as PNG.

Minister Maru also added that the two countries need to quickly look at opening flights and shipping services between the two countries, and also look at having a sports relationship, to build people-to-people relationship, which will be in addition to PNG students going to study in Indonesian universities and colleges.

NBC News / PNG Today 

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