Good response to PNG event in Seoul

I COULD not imagine the level of participation and excitement at the PNG investment road show in South Korea.
The media attention from the South Korean press was just as exci­ting as the participants who flocked to  see what the Papua New Guinea delegation would present.
This happened late last month during the road show at the famous Koreana Hotel in the heart of Seoul, the South Korean capital.
Among the high profile delegation were secretary for the Department of Commerce and Industry Stephen Mera, secretary for the Department of Works Joel Luma,  secretary for the Department of Petroleum and Energy Rendle Rimua, acting CEO of National Fisheries Authority John Kasu, managing director for Mineral Resources Authority Philip Samar, Eda Ranu CEO Billy Imar and numerous other CEOs and key go­vernment officials.
Many of our presenters highlighted the need for collaborative efforts both in developing basic infrastructure and the vast stock of natural resources in PNG.
The PNG Ambassador to South Korea, Bill Veri, spoke highly about the opportunities in PNG.
Many agreed that this group was one of the biggest PNG government delegations ever to have visited South Korea or Asia.
The delegation members also participated in several other important meetings with their South Korean counterparts.
One of them was investment promotion and protection agreement negotiation meeting which was hosted by the South Korean department of foreign affairs.
The Energy Corporation of South Korea also hosted the energy cooperation meeting while Seoul Water, the water authority of Seoul city, signed a memorandum of understanding emphasising technical and manpower training with Eda Ranu to begin working relationship between the two cities.
Mera’s efforts paid off with the delegation achieving many things including saving thousands of kina in a single visit.
To complement the road show, the delegation also made visits to relevant factories, industrial zones and business offices.
One of the highlights of the visits was our visit to the Incheon Industrial Park near Seoul, a model likening PNG’s Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang.
The road show was indeed a success living up to its theme, thus presenting business opportunities to both the Papua New Guinean and South Korean participants.
With the unswerving support of the two ambassadors representing our two countries, we will not wait long to appreciate the outcomes of this growing relationship between Papua New Guinea and South Korea.

Sikin Jim Kakon
Seoul, South Korea