Government re-sets Cairns consulate

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday January 30th, 2014

 THE Papua New Guinea government has re-established a consulate in Cairns to improve services, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato said. 

Pato (right) said the government decided to reopen the consulate last month to provide visa requirements and consular functions.

He said the consulate was issuing visas to foreigners travelling to PNG after the successful deployment of the border management system by the Australians and PNG Immigrations and Citizenship service authority.

Pato said consular support services would also be provided to PNG citizens in the North Queensland area.

He said the establishment of the consulate in Cairns would assist business communities in PNG and Australia along with the services provided by missions or posts in Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.

Pato said operations would boost PNG’s trade and investment interests in Australia, including tourism drive to implement direct international flights from Cairns to provincial ports in PNG, particularly in North Queensland’s area.

The government has also announced establishing a mission in Israel following Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his delegation’s visit there last year.