Photo from left to right: Jelta Wong, Cameron Dick and Richard Maru
The Queensland government through the Ministry of Treasurer and International Trade and Investment will be appointing a Queensland Trade Commissioner for the Pacific by next year 2023.
This is part of the Queensland government’s effort in strengthening the trade, economic and relationship that exists between Papua New Guinea and Queensland.
Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, Cameron Dick made this announcement during his official trip to the country on Sunday, November 12.
He said the establishment of the Trade Commissioners Office in the country is part of their new trade investment strategy for the Pacific that their government will be releasing.
“As part of that we wish to base a business development manager in PNG to work on supporting the relationship and strengthening the relationship that exists between PNG and Queensland,” he said.
“That is part of the AU$150 million trade strategy that will run for 10 years.
“As part of that we will spend around $4.5 million investing in the Pacific because of the value and importance of the Pacific in Queensland.”
Mr Dick said in 2021 and 2022 financial year, Queensland’s goods exported to the Pacific region were worth about AU$1 billion.
“About K2.3 billion of that amount, 80 per cent of that (K1.8 billion), was with PNG and that emphasises how important the relationship both the country and the state have,” he said.
“We want to further develop the economic opportunities both for PNG and for Queensland.
“We want the relationship to be based on partnership and values, whether that is in the development of skills and training, for individuals, whether it is economic opportunities for businesses, whether it is the investment pathway that exists between PNG and Queensland and Queensland and PNG, whether that is opportunities in sporting and cultural pursuits.
We think that is the first inland area of development between the two states.”
Reference: Wohi, Lorraine. Post-Courier (15 November 2022). “QLD To Set Up Trade Commissioners Office In PNG”.
