Deal allows visas to be issued on arrival in PNG, Fiji

Business, Normal
Source:

The National,Wednesday 17th April, 2013

 By CHRISTINE PAKAKOTA

VISA for Papua New Guinea and Fiji citizens will now be issued on arrival in both countries.

It follows the signing of a joint communiqué between the countries’ prime ministers in Port Moresby yesterday.

PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said visa issues between the two countries should be relaxed to encourage people to travel freely between the two countries. 

“So from today onwards, visa requirements for both countries will be on arrival so there is no need for visas to be issued either in Fiji or Papua New Guinea for the travel between the two countries,” he said.

He said it has been a fruitful bilateral meeting where many issues between the two countries were discussed.

“I want to stress that the relationship between the two countries are very friendly and cordial. “One that is emerging to be very strong and economic relationship between the two countries.

“Today we discussed many issues including issues of strengthening the trade and investment between Fiji and Papua New Guinea.” 

He also thanked the government of Fiji and Prime Minister  Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama for the partnership they were now encouraging, especially in skills and labour mobility.

“Fiji has a volunteer scheme which is encouraging retired public servants and your people to take up positions within the Pacific communities in terms of teaching, nurses, doctors and security forces,” he said. 

“We will be sending a team to Fiji this year to start recruiting Fijians to come and work here to take up positions where we have a huge chronic shortage within our public service structure.”