Japan giving K1billion for electrification project: PM

JAPAN will grant a 30-billion-yen (K1 billion) loan to support Papua New Guinea’s electrification programme and provide equipment for road development.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga assured Prime Minister James Marape of his support during a virtual online bilateral summit on Tuesday.
“As part of our cooperation, we will move forward with the electrification programme,” Suga said.
“We have also decided on the provision of construction equipment for road maintenance and improvement. We hope the emergency support loan (signed for in March) will contribute to PNG’s economic recovery,” he added.
Suga also asked for PNG’s cooperation in the operation of Japanese fishing vessels, collection of remains of Japanese soldiers killed during WWII, and participation of Japanese businesses in the Papua LNG project.
Marape thanked Suga, the people and government of Japan, and the Japanese Emperor “for continuing to ensure that PNG remains a permanent friend of Japan”.
“We are blessed with the good relationship we have with the people of Japan and the government of Japan,” he said.
“Lately, in our Covid-19-induced hard times, the Japanese government and people have stepped in.
“Let me make special mention of foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who visited us last year.
“He was the first foreign affairs minister or leader to visit PNG during Covid-19.
“On the back of that visit, your government, your people, gave us more than K1 billion worth of direct support to our budget.
“That was able to keep us going during the tough times, and Papua New Guineans appreciate the help,” he added.
Marape announced that PNG’s second-biggest airport in Morobe’s Nadzab, funded by the Japanese Government, would be named “PNG-Japan Friendship Airport”.