China will be one of eight countries where Papua New Guinea will establish trade missions, Papua New Guinea Trade minister says.
International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru said this following a recent decision by the Government to establish a National Trade Commission Service.
“Our trade representatives will have their own establishments within foreign missions or stand-alone offices or through the appointment of both PNG Trade commissioners and honorary trade commissioners throughout the world,” he said.
Maru said the primary role of the trade commissioner would be to look for exports for PNG goods and to promote trade, investment opportunities in this country particularly foreign direct investment.
“One of the major priorities is to attract investors to invest in our special economic zones and also in free trade negotiations with various counties starting with China and Indonesia.”
The first eight trade commissions to be established included: Shanghai, China; Brisbane, Australia; Bangkok, Thailand; Jakarta, Indonesia; Brussels, European Union; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Manila, Philippines; and Singapore.
“In terms of priority, the first trade commission we want to establish is Shanghai in China,” Maru added.
“It ranks as our priority as China is now offering to buy all our LNG (liquefied natural gas) and other resource products, fish, logs and other goods as well.
“China has the capacity to buy all our goods and that has been expressed in numerous meetings we have had, and the Prime Minister has had with the President.
“A number of state-owned enterprises (SOE) have expressed interest to fund a number of trade commissions.”
Maru said the Department of International Trade and Investment would be advertising shortly for applicants to fill the positions of trade commissioners in all eight trade missions.
“The department is looking for very highly qualified Papua New Guineans who have very strong commercial backgrounds, a minimum of a master’s degree qualification with strong academic background and work experience, who can deal with the corporate world in driving PNG’s trade agenda in terms of securing export markets and bringing in foreign direct investments,” he said.
SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS
