Photo: From Left to right - Ambassador John Bass & PM James Marape
The new United States Embassy in Port Moresby was officially opened recently when Prime Minister James Marape and US Under Secretary of State for Management, Ambassador John Bass cut the ribbon into the new complex. US State Department said the $US250 million or over K800 million project is a symbol of their commitment to supporting democracy, prosperity and security in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Ambassador Bass said the new building marks a significant relationship between PNG and the US as well as Indo-Pacific US relations. He added that there are a lot of Americans who play an important role in the US-PNG partnership and the Pacific.
"This Embassy says a lot about how the US thinks about PNG and our relationship with its people and it's quite bigger than our prior embassy and that reflects the growing size of our embassy staff, the increasing number of US Government personal visiting to consult and work on joint initiatives and the expanding scope of our shared agenda," Ambassador Bass said.
Prime Minister, Hon James Marape was thankful for the establishment of the new embassy building and expressed that it increases the partnership between both Nations and the Indo-Pacific region. He said PNG is looking forward to increasing trade relations with the US.
"We are happy that you have decided to make a bigger and permanent base in the country, we hope the new embassy building reflects our relationship with the United States going forward," PM Marape said.
Marape also thanked all Americans who contributed to the development of Papua New Guinea including Missionaries, aid, and volunteer workers.
In attendance at the launching of the Embassy complex where Heads of Missions in PNG and the Pacific, members of parliament, government dignitaries, corporate heads stakeholders and other contributing partners.
