The Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, has commended Richard Yakam on his re-appointment as Chief Trade Officer for another term of four years.
Mr Maru also commended Mr Yakam on his contribution and leadership in delivering key reforms that had strengthened PNG’s trade policy and institutional framework which was lacking since Independence.
Minister Maru thanked the NEC for its decision on the re-appointment, saying continuity and stability was important as PNG focused on securing new and improved market access for PNG exports through Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), starting with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“Effective participation in international trade is critical to PNG’s economic growth and long-term resilience and requires a stable and resourced National Trade Office to deliver this functional mandate. The key target of the National Trade Office, under the leadership of Mr. Yakam, will be to negotiate a CEPA between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the UAE. Our progress has been hampered by the war but we focus to have the negotiations completed and the Agreement signed before the end of this year,” Mr Maru said.
“We will use the CEPA between PNG and the UAE as a template in negotiating similar Agreements with other countries including Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and others.”