THE National Fisheries Authority (NFA) today marked another milestone in its long-standing partnership with Japan by signing a consultant agreement with the Fisheries Engineering Co. Ltd at in Tokyo.
NFA Managing Director Justin Ilakini and his NFA team, joined by officials from the departments of National Planning and Foreign Affairs, witnessed the signing of the agreement, which underscored the strong bilateral cooperation between PNG and Japan.
The agreement paves the way for the implementation of a transformative fisheries project in Kavieng, New Ireland Province.
Demolition works are scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2025, allowing the official groundbreaking ceremony to take place in September. Full construction is set to begin in November.
The project is valued at K111 million with K92 million funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and K20 million committed by the PNG Government through the NFA.
Mr Ilakini expressed profound gratitude to the government and people of Japan for their ongoing commitment and support to PNG, particularly in the fisheries sector.
“I would like to say thank you to the Government and people of Japan for gifting us this very important project,” he said.
“Fifty years from now, this moment will still be remembered as a significant turning point for the fisheries sector and the people of Papua New Guinea.”
He added that in alignment with Prime Minister James Marape’s message to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba earlier this week, Japan remained a true and enduring partner to PNG.
“It has been my greatest privilege and honor to be part of this historic event and to sign this agreement, which reaffirms our partnership and commitment to sustainable fisheries development,” he said.
President of Fisheries Engineering Co., Ltd, Uchida Akira, thanked the NFA for its collaboration and assured all parties that preparatory works were on schedule.
“We are fully committed to ensuring all documentation and groundwork is completed by August to allow the groundbreaking event in September. We look forward to delivering a world-class facility for the people of Papua New Guinea,” Mr Akira said.
Mr Ilakini emphasised that the project aligned with PNG’s National Tuna Domestication Policy and focused on enhancing capacity in coastal fisheries, post-harvest processing, commercial fishing, and sustainable marine resource management.
“Over the past 12 months, Prime Minister Marape has strengthened PNG’s global partnerships, deepening economic and development cooperation with nations including China, Australia, the United States, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, and especially Japan.
“His diplomatic outreach, anchored by the principle of ‘friends to all, enemies to none’, has positioned PNG as a responsible and visionary regional leader.
“As Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of independence, the country is forging its most robust network of international partnerships to date. The next challenge is to ensure these relationships translate into tangible opportunities for the people —through jobs, infrastructure, and sustainable growth.”