Jayapura, Jubi – Starting a visit to three Melanesian countries, namely Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands, the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi handed over the shell processing machine and Small and Medium Enterprise Training Module of shell-jewelry making which would be held in Papua New Guinea within this year.
In the press release received by Jubi on Saturday (28/2/2015), the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry said the purpose of minister’s visit is to improve the strategic partnership framework agreed by two countries in the Plan of Action 2013. The Indonesian Foreign Minister arrived at PNG on Friday morning (27/2/2015).
During her visit, the Indonesian Foreign Minister met with the PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato. Both ministers agreed the technical team would meet this year in order to discuss the scope of development partnership capacity to optimize the development in Papua New Guinea.
Further both ministers agreed to encourage the private sector in trading and broader cross-border investment. “Besides the economic partnership, both countries were agreed to cooperate in improving the connectivity and people-to-people relationship, border-management improvement as well as the partnership strengthening in capacity and technical assistance development,” as released by the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry.
As published in the release, the Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi has reaffirmed the Indonesian commitment to support Papua New Guinea as Chairman in APEC for 2018 as decided in the APEC Leader’s Declaration in Beijing last year.
“Indonesia and Papua New Guinea will also cooperate in the sectors of youth and sports, education and inter-cultural and inter-community at border area. Both foreign ministers welcomed the inauguration plan of Indonesia – Papua New Guinea boundary monument and Border Development Agency at Skouw Wutung border area this year,” other point released by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry.
Both foreign ministers also discussed about the possibility of promoting the air transportation, road infrastructure at border area as well as the visa-on-arrival facility to boost the tourism and cross-border business though better connectivity.
Through this occasion, the Indonesian Foreign Minister gave the shell processing machine and SME’s training module of shell-jewelry making that would be held in PNG within this year. Meanwhile the Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato gave invitation to the Indonesian Foreign Minister to attend the Pacific Islands Forum that would be held in 7 – 11 September 2015 in Port Moresby. Replying this invitation, she invited the Papua New Guinea to participate in the 60th Commemoration of Asia-Africa Conference in 19 – 24 April 2015. (Victor Mambor/rom)
