A US$250,000 (K830 564) health and medical equipment assistance from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has arrived in country.
The 2000 kilograms cargo consists of various medical items presented by the Indonesian Government.
The goods were received by the Deputy Controller of the National Control Centre for Covid19 Dr. Daoni Esorom and the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Elias Wohengu, in the presence of the Indonesian Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Andriana Supandy.
This assistance follows the official visit by Prime Minister James Marape on the 31st of March to Indonesia to meet with President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Presidential Palace.
During that visit, President Joko Widodo conveyed that Indonesia is ready to support Papua New Guinea’s efforts to strengthen its national resilience in the health sector through partnerships between the food and drug authorities of the two countries.
Indonesian pharmaceutical companies have also shown interest in marketing their products in the Papua New Guinea market.
Ambassador Supandy said this symbolic handing over of medical equipment to PNG portrays the strong ties between the two countries.
He said this gift, amongst several things discussed during the meeting between the two Prime Ministers in Indonesia, will strengthen the bilateral cooperation of the two countries.
Dr. Daoni Esorom, in receiving the health and medical equipment yesterday said this gift is timely and critical as the country prepares to go into it’s National General Elections in a week’s time.
He pointed out that this is not the first time the Indonesian government has given to Papua New Guinea.
During the Prime Minister’s visit to Indonesia on the 31st of March 2022, other things were discussed, including the increase in trade between PNG and Indonesia, which rose by 87% in 2021 compared to the previous year.
The implementation of the cooperation agreement in the defense sector was another agenda discussed, which will open up more opportunities for military cooperation between the two countries.
President Joko Widodo and PM Marape also discussed the synergy between the two countries to increase cooperation with the South Pacific countries, including the fields of sustainable development, climate change, renewable energy, maritime affairs and disaster management which are challenges for island countries in the Pacific.
H. E Supandy said Indonesia as the close neighbour and a good friend to Papua New Guinea is committed to assisting PNG.
“I believe there are still a lot of opportunity to be explored and as the Ambassador of Indonesia to Papua New Guinea, I would like to reiterate my commitment and give you my highest assurance to support the implementation of bilateral cooperation in the sector of political and security, economic and development, education, social and culture, and the most important is the common understanding among the people of the friendly neighboring countries.”
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