DEPUTY Prime Minister Hon John Rosso has expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian Government, led by President Joko Widodo, and the Indonesian business community, including State-Owned Agencies, for their commitment to enhancing business relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
PNG eagerly anticipates collaborating with Indonesian President-Elect Prabowo Subianto to further these relations. This statement follows a key business meeting held in Jakarta recently with potential Indonesian partners involved in Special Economic Zones (SEZs), downstream processing, mining, petroleum, and textiles. The meeting was also attended by Indonesia’s Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Minister, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks for the warm hospitality from the Indonesian Government and business representatives. Special appreciation goes to Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan for his crucial role in deepening interactions between our two nations,” Deputy Prime Minister Rosso stated.
“This meeting represents a ‘new beginning’ for Indonesia and PNG. Despite our close proximity, we have yet to fully explore our cooperative potential. PNG’s wealth of raw materials offers significant opportunities for downstream processing, and Indonesia’s expertise in this area is invaluable.
“It is time for PNG to transition from being a primary exporter of raw materials to focusing on value addition through downstream processing. This shift will create jobs and significantly increase the value of our exports.”
Rosso also announced plans to submit a Letter of Intent to advance Indonesia-PNG cooperation and to establish a High-Level Delegation Meeting, along with biannual forums between the two countries.
“PNG faces challenges, particularly in the energy sector, where Indonesia has achieved 97 percent coverage. We are eager to learn from Indonesia’s success and apply these insights to our own needs,” he added.
Rosso also highlighted PNG’s interest in learning about garment manufacturing, cement production, and other industries.
“I believe the future holds great promise, and with ongoing mutual cooperation and trust, our nations will make significant strides,” he said, concluding by inviting the Indonesian business community to visit Papua New Guinea and explore collaborative opportunities.
