PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape has called for stronger United States engagement with Papua New Guinea in energy security and economic investment, while also raising concerns over visa-bond charges affecting Papua New Guineans travelling to the United States.
Prime Minister Marape raised the issues during a bilateral meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and senior U.S. Government officials on the sidelines of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Koror, Palau, today.
Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea regarded the United States as an important partner of choice and wanted the relationship to increasingly deliver practical economic benefits.
He welcomed greater U.S. private-sector investment in PNG, particularly in energy, mining, petroleum and infrastructure.
Mr Landau said the Pacific was a strategic priority for the United States and that the U.S. wanted to promote greater private-sector economic investment in Papua New Guinea.
He said PNG had significant resources and the United States wanted to help commercially viable projects succeed, including through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation where appropriate.
Prime Minister Marape pointed to ExxonMobil and the PNG LNG Project as an example of successful U.S. investment in Papua New Guinea and encouraged more American companies and financial institutions to invest in the country.
He said PNG wanted to move beyond discussions and see more investment translated into projects, jobs and economic opportunities for Papua New Guineans.
ENERGY AND FUEL SECURITY
Prime Minister Marape said energy security was one of PNG’s most pressing economic challenges, with high global fuel prices placing significant pressure on the Government, businesses and households.
“The greatest need right now is the reduction in the cost of fuel,” Prime Minister Marape said.
The two sides discussed the fuel-storage facility being developed in Papua New Guinea with U.S. support, with Prime Minister Marape calling for outstanding issues to be resolved quickly so the project could move forward.
He proposed that Papua New Guinea could eventually become a major fuel-storage and distribution hub serving PNG as well as other Pacific Island countries.
Mr Landau also discussed the U.S. Regional Energy Security Initiative announced in Palau, which includes intended funding of US$60 million to support energy security across the Pacific.
Prime Minister Marape welcomed the initiative and encouraged the United States to explore how it could complement the fuel-storage project already being pursued in PNG.
He said reducing dependence on expensive imported fuel was critical for PNG and encouraged greater investment in alternative and renewable energy, including solar power.
US VISA CHARGES
Prime Minister Marape also raised concerns about the U.S. visa-bond requirement affecting Papua New Guinean travellers.
He said PNG valued its friendship with the United States but believed legitimate travel between the two countries should be made easier rather than more difficult.
“We are friends, and friends should be able to talk very candidly,” Prime Minister Marape said.
He encouraged the United States to consider greater use of technology to manage its borders while facilitating genuine visitors from Papua New Guinea.
Mr Landau explained that the visa-bond policy was part of a wider U.S. border-management policy and was not specifically targeted at Papua New Guinea.
He said other Pacific Island countries had also raised concerns about the requirement and undertook to look into the issue. Prime Minister Marape said PNG would continue engaging the United States on the matter while strengthening the broader economic relationship between the two countries.
He thanked Mr Landau and the U.S. delegation for the frank discussions and said PNG looked forward to advancing practical cooperation in energy, investment and trade.