PRIME Minister James Marape has had a bilateral meeting with President of Rwanda His Excellency Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa.
PM Marape thanked President Kagame for making time to meet with him.
He also thanked him for contributing to the Commonwealth countries as Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth Secretariat in the last two years, and wished him well as the outgoing Chair.
In 2022, when Rwanda hosted the CHOGM, PNG did not attend as it was during the National General Elections, for which PM Marape expressed his regrets.
PM Marape noted that Papua New Guinea and Rwanda have engaged on several occasions at the multilateral level but no concrete agreements have been progressed yet bilaterally.
He expressed optimism that this meeting would result in the two countries fostering deeper collaboration in trade and people-to-people relations as well as Rwanda extending its assistance in other areas such as climate change.
Furthermore, PM Marape stated that Rwanda, as one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, is a model of post-conflict economic reconstruction and social cohesion.
“Its success in governance, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and infrastructure development presents an opportunity for PNG to explore knowledge-sharing initiatives,’’ said PM Marape.
“Rwanda ranks among the top in Africa in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index, showcasing its commitment to creating a favourable environment for investors and entrepreneurs.
“Papua New Guinea with its abundant natural resources and growing focus on diversifying its economy, stands to benefit from strategic engagement with Rwanda, particularly in areas such as ICT, tourism, governance, and sustainable development.’’
Other areas that PNG can benefit from Rwanda include:
- Rwanda’s success in governance reforms, particularly in anti-corruption measures and the creation of transparent institutions. This is imperative to achieving national development goals. Rwanda’s approach to public service delivery and business-friendly policies provides a model for improving PNG’s investment climate.
- Both PNG and Rwanda are active members of international organizations such as the United Nations and the Commonwealth. They share mutual interests in sustainable development, climate action, and South-South cooperation, providing avenues for enhanced diplomatic engagement.
Prime Minister Marape has indicated to send a delegation to Rwanda before the 50th Independence Anniversary of PNG next year to seek opportunities of investment and trade with PNG and to invite potential Rwanda investors who are looking to do business with PNG.
The Prime Minister also used the opportunity to extend an invitation to President Kagame to attend PNG’s 50th Independence Anniversary next year.
In response, President Kagame acknowledged and accepted Prime Minister Marape’s apologies for not attending the last CHOGM in Kigali.
He also stated that he would be honoured to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations in Port Moresby.
In conclusion, President Kagame acknowledged the long distance that they travel to this part of the world, but said the two countries could still make their relationship stronger and beneficial.
Both leaders met on Thursday (24/10/24) a day ahead of the official opening of the CHOGM, which is today (Friday, 25th October, 2024).
