Province interested in accessing new markets

The National National
US Ambassador Erin McKee and East Sepik Governor Allan Bird at Boram airport, Wewak, on Tuesday. McKee also visited the local chamber of commerce and faith-based organisation Samaritan Aviation. – Picture supplied

EAST Sepik Governor Allan Bird says the province is interested in accessing new markets and business partners such as the United States.
Bird said East Sepik was open for business, with international partners and was eager to display transparency and accountability while doing business with the US.
He said this in Wewak on Tuesday after hosting US Ambassador Erin McKee on her first visit since her appointment to PNG and the Solomon Islands.
“It was a great honour to be the first province to host Ambassador McKee on her first official visit since her appointment to PNG and the Solomon Islands,” Bird said.
“As the US seeks to increase its presence in the Pacific, we are interested in accessing new markets and business partners with similar principles and values as us.
“We intend to pursue any opportunities of mutual interest between PNG and the US.
“We look forward to this renewed engagement with our friends in the US. Sepik is open for business,” Bird said in a Facebook posting.
McKee met with Bird and provincial executives and visited several organisations.
McKee said it was important to see what was happening on the ground in order to assess how best to help and form stronger relationships.
She said the ethical management of the province and country’s resources were a key focus of her term. The ethical management of sustainable resources will also play an important role in security whenever the province faced destabilising forces.