President Jokowi, PM Marape Talk on Indonesia-PNG Cooperation

President Jokowi meets with PM of Papua New Guinea James Marape at APEC Haus, Wednesday (07/05). (Photo by: BPMI/Rusman)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) James Marape discussed enhancement of cooperation between the two countries in various fields during a meeting at APEC Haus, Wednesday (07/05).

President Jokowi affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to continue to increase cooperation with Pacific countries, including Papua New Guinea (PNG). He said that Indonesia and PNG had agreed to develop a development cooperation roadmap for the next five years.

“Indonesia will also immediately start renovating facilities at the Port Moresby Hospital, building a firefighters post and waste management at Vanimo, building a school in Wutung, and offering more scholarships for PNG students,” said President Jokowi in a press statement after the meeting.

In addition, President Jokowi and PM Marape also discussed enhancement of cooperation in the economic sector. According to the President, trade between Indonesia and PNG in 2022 increased sharply reaching US$307 million.

“This figure needs to be continuously improved by encouraging the continuation of PTA (preferential trade agreement) discussions, establishing a Business Council, conducting visit of trade and investment missions, and encouraging participation of Indonesian SOEs in highway construction in PNG,” said the President.

As for connectivity and borders, President Jokowi said that he welcomed a number of policies and opened activities at the border areas, such as opening the PNG Express shipping route, opening the Denpasar-Port Moresby flight route, ratifying the Basic Agreement on Border Arrangement, and reopening the Skouw-Wutung border-crossing post.

Furthermore, President Jokowi and PM Marape also discussed Indo-Pacific cooperation. The President affirmed his commitment to step up Indonesia and ASEAN’s engagement with the Pacific.

“Including inviting Pacific representatives to the East Asia Summit and organizing the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum,” said the President. (BPMI SETPRES/AIT) (EST/MMB)