Photo: Hon Justin Tkatchenko & Korean ambassador to PNG, KANG Ho-jeung
Foreign Affairs Minister, Justin Tkatchenko has announced the proposed plans for South Korean investments which will include the re-establishment of the Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) and establishment of the Ocean and Fisheries Corporation Centre (OFCC) in Port Moresby starting next year.
Minister Tkatchenko made the announcement after his recent trip to the Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers meeting in Busan Metropolitan, South Korea.
Tkatchenko stated that South Korea's aid agency has spent millions throughout the world and Pacific on various multiple projects and had closed their office in the country 10 years ago.
"My negotiations with the South Korean Foreign Minister and the President of the Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) have concluded that we will re-establish the KOICA office once more in Port Moresby". Tkatchenko said.
Having KOICA established in Port Moresby next year is a huge bonus for the benefit of aid, trade and economy.
Minister Tkatchenko also stressed on the proposed establishment of the Ocean and Fisheries Corporation Centre (OFCC) which is also said to be set up in Port Moresby in the coming year. He said the OFCC would coordinate relationships between South Korea and the Pacific Island Nations in key areas of buying, selling and trading fish and marine resources.
"South Koreans are big seafood eaters, they love fresh fish and seafood. It is part of their natural diet, and they want to do more when it comes to buying and trading our marine products" he said.
"They wanted to set up the Fisheries corporation centre in Fiji, but I insisted for them to have it established in PNG because 15 per cent of the world's Tuna comes from PNG. I negotiated for them to come to PNG so they have taken off their previous decision to go to Fiji and the centre will now be established in Port Moresby" Tkatchenko said.
"South Koreans are very humble, professional and hardworking people and they really want to make these investments are reality, this shows the confidence that Korea has in our Government and also in PNG".
We must look forward to working together with the South Korean's by early next year to re-establish the new KOICA office as well as the establishment of the OFCC". Minister Tkatchenko said.
