Papua New Guinea (PNG) is set to participate at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, says the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru in the second inter-agency meeting for Osaka Expo.
Initially, the Government whilst approving PNG’s participation at the Expo also approved a funding of K5.6 million for PNG’s overall participation at the Expo.
Minister Maru stated: “The K5.6 million was based on the understanding that the host country would allow us to display and sell our products within the pavilion itself, however, we have been advised by the host Government that the Expo site will be an artificial island (Yumeshima) and there is a risk of methane gas and more weight may cause the island to sink so they are discouraging selling and displaying of products within the expo site. Only digital exhibition will be allowed in the pavilion at the Expo site. We want to make a bigger impact in the Japanese market and in the world at this Expo so we are exploring an option to lease a commercial centre outside the Expo space at the Osaka Bay Area where we can display and sell our products and services and promote PNG as an exciting tourism and investment destination. We will need funding to lease a commercial centre and the cost is expected to increase given the host Government will not be offering a waiver for some of the domestic laws like taxes, quarantine issues, standards etc- everything will on commercial basis. Hence, we are now looking at the options of having the private sector to come on board and support us.”
An estimate of 28.2 million visits is projected over the course of the Expo, highlighting the Expo’s international significance and appeal. A total of 150 countries and 25 international organizations are expected to participate. To date, over 160 countries and international organization have already confirmed their participation at the Expo.
“This is an opportunity for us to market our products and services, and also to promote our country as a tourism and an investment destination,” said Minister Maru.
Minister Maru further added: “Air Niugini must look at reopening direct flights from Narita and Port Moresby or Nadzab, otherwise it would be impossible to market PNG as a tourism and an investment destination to Japan.”
Minister Maru said this was also an opportunity for PNG to show its commitment to Japan if it wanted to take its relationship with Japan to the next level.
“This Expo is Japan’s premier event that will expose them to the world and they are very keen that all their traditional partners and special friends like PNG supports them in this Expo. Japan is a major export market for our LNG. The trade between PNG and Japan is in our favor. Japan has supported us in times of disasters and Japan through JICA has delivered aid projects with a focus on quality infrastructure with recent examples being the funding of an upgrade of Port Moresby’s dilapidated sewerage treatment capability, improvements to electrical transmission networks in the Ramu grid that serves the industrial city of Lae, as well as upgrading of Nadzab and Tokua airport to international standard. PNG has benefited so much from its relationship with Japan and our attendance and participation at the Osaka Expo 2025 is one chance for PNG to show its commitment to Japan. This expo must also be the start of a move towards a Free Trade Agreement between our two countries,” said Minister Maru.
A team from the Secretariat led by Commissioner-General of Section PNG, Ambassador Gabriel Dusava will be visiting Osaka in the coming week to meet the organizing team of the Expo and also to identify a commercial space for PNG to lease for the six months of the Expo starting in April next year.
“We are six months late in preparation but this is doable if we have the full support of the Government and the private sector. Though slow, the momentum has begun. It will require the total involvement of the Government and the private sector to get the success that we want from Osaka Expo 2025,” said Ambassador Dusava.
