Photo: Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru with the Indonesian Vice Minister for Trade, Hon. Jerry Sambuaga during their meeting on the margins of the APEC Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.
Richard Maru, the minister of foreign trade and investment, says he is eager to promote trade and investment with Indonesia.
“Our people go to the border to trade with Indonesia. There is big trade happening there, but our two governments have not made the time to enter into a formal trade and investment partnership and relationship. That discussion started today,” he added.
Maru spoke at a meeting with Jerry Sambuaga, the vice-minister of trade for Indonesia, outside of the most recent conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Bangkok.
“This was our mistake for not building the investment partnership. I want to fix this in my term as the minister.
“So, when I first took office, I said our highest priority in terms of trade and investment would be with Indonesia in the next five years – that would be PNG’s No.1 trade and investment priority,” he added.
“We must start putting up power lines from Vanimo to the border (Wutung) so that we can start buying electricity from Indonesia. That is the first product that Indonesia can sell to us as we embark on this relationship.
“We have also declared war on the export of raw materials. We do not want to export raw materials. Indonesian companies can come and invest in this space.
“We want to see more investment in cattle, oil palm and rice. We have mining and gas projects.
“There are many opportunities for investments there, but Indonesia has not tapped into our opportunities, and we have not marketed our opportunities to Indonesia,” he said.
Sambuaga was informed by Maru that it was crucial for the two nations to examine the feasibility of developing air travel and cargo transportation between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
Reference: The National (1 December 2022). “Maru keen on pursuing trade with Indonesia”.
