M’sia aiding PNG: Envoy

By HELEN TARAWA
BUSINESSES from Malaysia operating in Papua New Guinea have contributed to the rapid growth of the economy, creating jobs for locals, says Malaysian High Commissioner to PNG Mohamad Nasri Abdul Rahman.
He said during the Malaysia Day celebrations on Wednesday evening at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby that PNG “will always have a special place in Malaysia’s bilateral relations”.
“We continue to enjoy this relationship, mutual respect, understanding and cooperation,” he said.
“Our cooperation has been accepted through years of common membership in the United Nations, Commonwealth and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.”
He thanked Prime Minister James Marape for “endorsing international investors including Malaysia and Malaysian companies”.
“We look forward to (his) strong support and commitment to rectify the investment guarantee agreement between Malaysia and PNG for the exchange of trade and investment of the two countries,” he said.
“I commend the efforts by Malaysian companies to start and expand businesses in PNG. These businesses contribute to the rapid growth of this country’s economy and created many jobs for PNG.”
Entertainment during the celebrations was provided by the Sarawak Cultural troupe which accompanied Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Art Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzahn.
“My trip this time was with a big delegation – the cultural troupe from the State of Sarawak,” he said.
He said the bilateral relations between the two countries had developed to a level where a “wide spectrum of activities for cooperation have been established”.
He added that there were “mutually beneficial bilateral ties and exchanges and visits at all levels – defence, security cooperation, trade and investment, information and communication technology and through tourism and cultural exchanges”.