8 THE JAPAN TIMES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 (3) Papua New Guinea independence day PNG environment ripe for investment, sustainable development Year of highlights in Papua New Guinea-Japan relations Katsuo Yamashita countries, and also attract more government of Papua New Michael Maue fore values the cooperative re- gold on a sea of oil’’ is how CHAIRMAN, JAPAN-PAPUA NEW GUINEA attention in Japan to Papua Guinea and Japanese private PAPUA NEW GUINEA AMBASSADOR lationship it enjoys with its de- some commentators have re- ASSOCIATION New Guinea. companies that the negotiations TO JAPAN velopment partners. In this re- ferred to the country when dis- ---------------------------------------- The association is happy to to implement the LNG ------------------------------------------ spect, we hold in high esteem cussing its resource endow- On behalf of the Japan-Papua note that we contributed, albeit development project in the near Papua New Guinea is a small our relationship with Japan. ment. New Guinea Association, I in a small way, to the success of future are moving very developing island country Indeed Japan is the second- In 2008, Papua New Guinea would like to express my sincere the welcoming reception for smoothly. with a comparatively short largest ODA provider for Pa- exported 61 tons of gold, 54 congratulations to the Prime Minister Somare, One of the admirable results history of na- pua New Guinea. tons of silver and 166,00 tons of government and people of organized by the PNG Embassy of Prime Minister Somare’s tionhood, hav- Much of Japan’s ODA is copper. When the four large Papua New Guinea who in Tokyo. discussions with Prime Minister ing gained inde- channeled toward infrastruc- mines under construction be- celebrate their 34th I offer my congratulations on Taro Aso was that basic pendence 34 ture projects such as roads, gin production in the next five Independence Day today, Sept. the start of the construction of agreement between the two years ago on bridges and sanitation, as well years, the total gold output is 16, 2009. the PNG Embassy Chancellery governments was finally Sept. 16, 1975. as schools and hospitals where expected to reach 100 tons. This year, we happily in May, which was a reached to enable the PNG Much of Pa- it is needed the most. Japa- Other products such as nickel, witnessed quite a number of long-planned project, the idea government to have a second pua New Guin- nese ODA therefore continues cobalt and molybdenum are exciting events concerning our for which was energetically weekly flight to Narita beginning ea society is ru- to make a real difference in expected to enter the market. bilateral relationship at official initiated by PNG Ambassador next April, which was a ral and tradition based. This the lives of the people. Mines in Papua New Guinea and private levels. The highlight H.E. Michael Maue. long-standing request to the accounts for 80 percent of the Papua New Guinea has include Ok Tedi (gold and cop- was the official visit of Prime On government-to- Japanese government. population. The remaining 20 been blessed with an abun- per), Pogera (gold), Lihir Minister the Right Honorable Sir government assistance, it is In the early part of next year, percent is urban dwellers. dance of natural resources, (gold), Kainantu (gold), To- Michael Somare to attend the highly appreciated that an we look forward to celebrating Democracy has remained ranging from fisheries and lokuma (gold), Sinivit (gold) fifth Pacific Islands Leaders official agreement was reached the official opening of the new active and vibrant, and its pre- forestry in the renewable sec- and Simberi (gold). Meeting between Japan and the between the two countries to chancellery building of the PNG mier institution, the National tor to minerals, as well as oil Mines that are under con- members of the Pacific Islands implement two major projects, Embassy, hopefully in the Parliament, remains intact. and gas deposits on land and struction are: the Ramu Nick- Forum in Hokkaido in May. The namely, the Port Moresby presence of Prime Minister Through a system of provin- the seabed. Vast arable land el Project (nickel and cobalt), prime minister’s visit was a Sewage Project and the Somare, and the official cial and local-level govern- with year-round tropical Hidden Valley (gold and sil- major success and helped to construction of bridges on the operation of two weekly air ments, power continues to be weather presents opportuni- ver), Solwara 1 (gold, silver deepen personal understanding Bougainville Coastal Trunk services between Narita and divested to the people to en- ties for agricultural develop- and copper) and Yandera between the leaders of both Road. It is a good sign for the Port Moresby. sure participatory democra- ment. Tropical rain forests (copper and molybdenum). cy. teeming with flora and fauna, Exploration activities have Like all developing coun- steep mountains and gorges increased in the mining sec- will be successful. marked increase since 2005. portant, robust and expanding. tries, Papua New Guinea has with rapids and waterfalls, tor. Currently, three explora- Another LNG project led by For instance, the total volume its share of socioeconomic de- pristine waters, sandy beach- tion licenses are at pre-feasi- InterOil Corp. is under consid- of trade in 2007 reached Permanent chancellery velopment issues and chal- es and tropical reefs all hold bility to feasibility study stag- eration. The project partners US$827 million (2.694 billion A measure of the impor- lenges. With a population of 6.1 potential for ecotourists, di- es. have recently presented to the kina) compared to US$660 mil- tance placed by Papua New million (2006 estimate) and vers and adventure-oriented Bilateral foundations: Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Grand Chief But gold and copper are not government a project agree- lion (1.166 billion kina) in 2004 Guinea on its relations with growing at the rate of 2.7 per- visitors. Sir Michael Somare performs the groundbreaking honors May the only minerals. There are ment for consideration and ap- — the balance of trade being in Japan can be seen from the de- cent, coupled with a per capita But developing these re- 19 for Papua New Guinea’s permanent chancellery at the known deposits of iron oxide proval. This US$6 billion pro- Papua New Guinea’s favor. cision by the government to GDP of 2,971 kina, or US$1,002 sources in a sustainable man- embassy in Tokyo. and the other metals — mag- ject will bring in natural gas Papua New Guinea’s major build a permanent chancel- (2007 estimate), the ability of ner for generations to come nesium, chromium, titanium from InterOil’s gas field in the exports to Japan are metal lery for the embassy in Japan. the government to provide ad- with minimal impact on the late domestic and foreign di- leum sectors, the tax incen- and vanadium — which coex- interior of the country for pro- ores, crude oil, coffee, fish and This is the second chancellery equate basic social services environment and the people, rect investments. These in- tives include the phasing out of ist with iron oxide. Large cessing at Napa Napa near timber products while it im- to be constructed in Papua and infrastructure is as well as ensuring that inves- clude various tax incentives mining levies, reduction of in- quantities of limestone are al- Port Moresby before export- ports from Japan motor vehi- New Guinea’s history and fur- stretched. tors receive fair returns on and reforms, various tariff re- come tax from 35 percent to 30 so found throughout the coun- ing. cles, machinery and spare ther underlines the signifi- These challenges are even their investments, presents forms as well as wage subsi- percent, royalties at 2 percent try. These are tangible opportu- parts. cance of the Papua New Guin- more acute when the country’s challenges for the govern- dies for companies manufac- and reductions in the dividend Opportunities therefore nities for Japanese compa- There is still more room for ea-Japan relationship. geography and demographics ment. In dealing with these de- turing new products. withholding tax from 17 per- abound in these areas for Jap- nies, investors and funding improvement. Prime Minister Somare come into play. Of the 6.1 mil- velopment challenges, Papua In the agriculture and fish- cent to 10 percent. anese investors to be involved agencies to engage with Pa- performed the groundbreak- lion inhabitants, 80 percent New Guinea welcomes part- eries sector, these incentives from exploration and feasibili- pua New Guinea in a relation- Bilateral visits ing honors May 19 during his live in traditional rural com- ners and genuine foreign in- include accelerated deprecia- Framework agreements ty studies to the construction, ship that can only be mutually Trade and commercial re- visit to Japan. Construction is munities, ranging from small vestors who can make a con- tion of up to 100 percent in the Complementing these fiscal development and marketing beneficial. lations are not the only factors under way and is scheduled remote islands and atolls to tribution to these development first year on new plants or policies are the bilateral of end products. As part of the ongoing effort that shape Papua New Guin- for completion in December, large villages and tribes in efforts in a mutually benefi- equipment used in production. framework agreements that Developments in the oil and to promote investment and ea’s relationship with Japan. with a formal opening ceremo- some of the most rugged and cial way. In the tourism sector, incen- have been concluded with oth- gas sectors have also attract- business opportunities in Pa- High-level visits have taken ny planned for next spring.