Indonesia And PNG Agree To Arrange A Roadmap For Development Cooperation

President Jokowi in a press conference with the Prime Minister (PM) of PNG James Marape in APEC Haus, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Wednesday (5/7/2023). BETWEEN/HO-Biro Press of the Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev.

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) agreed to prepare a roadmap for development cooperation for the next five years.

"Indonesia will also soon begin renovating Port Moresby Hospital facilities, building damkar posts, waste management in Vanimo, school construction in Wutung, and increasing scholarships for PNG students," President Jokowi said in a press statement after a meeting with Prime Minister (PM) PNG James Marape at APEC Haus, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

During the meeting, Jokowi conveyed Indonesia's commitment to continue to increase cooperation with Pacific countries, including PNG.

Jokowi and PM Marape also discussed increasing cooperation in the economic sector between the two countries. According to Jokowi, Indonesia-PNG trade in 2022 will increase sharply to reach 307 million US dollars.

"This needs to continue to be improved by encouraging the continuation of the PTA (preferential trade agreement) discussion, the establishment of the Business Council, visit to trade and investment missions, participation of Indonesian SOEs in road construction in PNG," he said.

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

In addition, Jokowi and PM Marape also discussed Indo-Pacific cooperation. President Jokowi conveyed his commitment to increasing Indonesia and ASEAN's involvement with the Pacific.

"This includes inviting representatives of the Pacific in the East Asia Summit and organizing the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum," said President Jokowi.