Monday 26 August 2024
Prime Minister James Marape being presented with a traditional gift from Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, during the leaders’ bilateral meeting, held on the sides of the PIF Leaders’ summit in Nuku’ alofa, Tonga, today, Monday, 26 August 2024. (photo courtesy: PM’s Media).
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape met with Fijian Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka today to discuss mutual areas of concern between Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
The meeting, held on the margins of the 53rd Pacific Islands Leaders’ Summit, continues to explore and strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The agenda covered progress of the PNG-Fiji Defence Cooperation, engagement of Papua New Guinea Defence Force in peace-keeping operations, trade and investment, land availability in both countries for respective missions, education, and the continuation of the Sir Mara and Sir Michael legacy.
Prime Minister Marape informed Prime Minister Rabuka that the defence cooperation between the two countries will be progressed.
During their discussions, Mr Marape further highlighted the great potential for trade and investment existing between the two nations, urging bureaucracies of both countries to work together through the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) avenue to progress trade and investment further.
He informed Mr Rabuka of Papua New Guinea’s focus, especially on commerce, business, trade and investment, and exploring further markets in Asia and the Pacific.
The Prime Minister highlighted the East New Britain Initiative (ENBi) in PNG as a regional fisheries commercialisation concept for the fishing and processing of the region’s marine resources for export.
The ENBi provides the opportunity to Pacific Island countries to invest in the project for better returns than what Pacific countries are currently getting from raw tuna export.
Prime Minister Marape also made known the availability of land to Prime Minster Rabuka for the construction of the Fiji mission building in Port Moresby, committing K25 million to commence construction.
He also expressed his gratitude to Mr Rabuka for making land available for PNG to build its office in Suva.
In relation to PNG students at Fiji’s University of South Pacific, Prime Minister Marape said PNG would sign up as a member of University of South Pacific, and that the PNG government is looking at scholarship options for Pacific Islands students studying at Pacific Adventist University in PNG.