Prime Minister Hon. Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation by Prime Minister Hon. James Marape to visit Papua New Guinea soon.

Prime Minister Netanyahu made the announcement at the opening of the new Papua New Guinea Embassy in Jerusalem last night (5/9/23).

Prime Minister Netanyahu said PNG was the first Asia-Pacific country to open its embassy in Jerusalem and he was proud that PNG has taken a bold step.

“This will only enable us to cherish the past and also seize the future. I’m impressed by the great potential that you have and you are building Papua New Guinea.

“Papua New Guinea is a big country with big opportunities and I think that the fact that you have an embassy here will enable us to realise all your potentials in agriculture, water, technology, health and enterprise.

“And I look forward to visiting your country soon.

“I hope very much that we can see Israeli entrepreneurs, experts and tourists visiting Papua New Guinea and one of these tourists, I hope in the near future, will be me,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

Meanwhile, in thanking Mr Netanyahu for accepting his invitation, Mr Marape said he looked forward to the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to PNG, which is expected soon.

The invitation by PM Marape was made to his Israeli counterpart to have PM Netanyahu officiate at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Israel Embassy in Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea is reciprocating by providing Israel a piece of land to have Israel also build its diplomatic mission in PNG.

Moreover, a bilateral meeting was held by the two Prime Ministers at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Office affirming all matters as agreed in an earlier bilaterial meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.

“I am happy to announce that at the meeting the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has affirmed his Foreign Minister’s earlier statement in the area of technology, capacity building and direct private sector investment in PNG,” said Prime Minister Marape.