PNG must show more commitment to Japan: Abal

PAPUA New Guinea’s ambassador to Japan Sam Abal has urged the Government to show more commitment to Japan which was in the PNG’s favour.
He told International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru that the 2025 Osaka World Expo in Japan was a premier event that would expose PNG to the world.
Japan is keen to see all its traditional partners and special friends like PNG support the Expo.
Abal said Japan was a major market for the country’s LNG, with trade favouring PNG.
“Japan has supported us in times of disasters and Japan through Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency) has delivered aid projects with a focus on quality infrastructure,” he said.
The recent examples of the funding was the upgrade of Port Moresby’s dilapidated sewerage treatment capability, improvements to electrical transmission networks in the Ramu grid that serves the industrial city of Lae, and the upgrading of Nadzab and Tokua airport in East New Britain.
He said PNG had benefited from its relationship with Japan.
Maru assured Abal that he would be writing to the Prime Minister and Treasurer James Marape to immediately release K5.6 million as approved by the National Executive Council on Oct 31, 2023.