Foreign Minister Hon. Justin Tkatchenko MP, and Special Envoy of Japan’s Prime Minister, Hon. Shiheru Ishiba, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Takuma Miyaji, on Tuesday September 16, met for the ‘Signing and Exchange of Notes on Official Security Assistance (OSA).

The signed OSA provides heavy machinery amounting up to 400-million-yen equivalent to Kl 1.6 million to help strengthen Papua New Guinea’s disaster relief and infrastructure development capabilities.

The equipment will be provided to the engineering battalion of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, and to the Lae military base.

Minister Tkatchenko expressed that the assistance was a historical grant aid signing for both countries in the area of military assistance.

He added that the signing on the day of the 50th Independence Anniversary of Papua New Guinea, carried even more significance as the 50th year of Japan -PNG relations.

“I thank the Government and people of Japan. Japan is very efficient, and we also have to be efficient and prepared to immediately progress negotiations and our processes to ensure that we utilize this Grant, and immediately implement. These are very important projects.

We must make sure that what we sign and what we agree to is implemented immediately and not put on the shelves where it gathers dust and is forgotten,” Minister Tkatchenko said.

Minister Miyagi added that Japan will work shoulder to shoulder with Papua New Guinea to support the efforts of the PNGDF to demonstrate their capabilities for national and regional security in the Pacific, including through the provision of OSA.

“We expect that this will synergize with capacity-building assistance conducted by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force as well as with the cooperation activities carried out by Australia at the same location,” Minister Miyagi said.

“Over the past 50 years since independence, Japan and Papua New Guinea have enjoyed our relationship as genuine Tomodachi (friends). To that end, I am committed to working even harder for further development of our bilateral relations. I sincerely appreciate your kind support.”

I am pleased to visit Papua New Guinea, a country blessed with rich culture and beautiful nature.

It is also our immense joy to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations together.”