Maru keen on pursuing trade with Indonesia

INTERNATIONAL Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru says he is keen to pursue trade and investment with closest neighbour Indonesia.
“Our people go to the border to trade with Indonesia. There is big trade happening there, but our two governments have not made the time to enter into a formal trade and investment partnership and relationship. That discussion started today,” he added.
Maru spoke at a meeting with Indonesian trade vice-minister Jerry Sambuaga on the sidelines of the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok.
“This was our mistake for not building the investment partnership. I want to fix this in my term as the minister.
“So, when I first took office, I said our highest priority in terms of trade and investment would be with Indonesia in the next five years – that would be PNG’s No.1 trade and investment priority,” he added.
“We must start putting up power lines from Vanimo to the border (Wutung) so that we can start buying electricity from Indonesia. That is the first product that Indonesia can sell to us as we embark on this relationship.
“We have also declared war on the export of raw materials. We do not want to export raw materials. Indonesian companies can come and invest in this space.
“We want to see more investment in cattle, oil palm and rice. We have mining and gas projects.
“There are many opportunities for investments there, but Indonesia has not tapped into our opportunities, and we have not marketed our opportunities to Indonesia,” he said.
Maru told Sambuaga that it was important for the two countries to study the viability of establishing an airline service and cargo-shipping service between PNG and Indonesia.