Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has acknowledged the special bond Papua New Guinea has with Japan, as he congratulated Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on 50 years of delivering Japan’s development assistance to PNG.
JICA, the Japanese government agency that delivers the bulk of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries worldwide, opened its office in PNG in 1974, one year before PNG gained its Independence and one year before Japan and PNG began their diplomatic ties.
This year 2024 sees 50 years of JICA’s operation in PNG, which has resulted in many successful initiatives in fisheries, agriculture, health, education, environ- mental protection, rural electrification, and projects such as a fisheries pro- gram with National Fisheries College in New Ireland Province, upgrading of the Port Moresby General Hospital, Port Moresby sewerage project, and the recently opened Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport in Morobe Province.
To date, Japan’s total cumulative ODA to PNG has amounted to more than JPY200 million or about K6 million as of 2023.
Prime Minister Marape, on Thursday (17.10.24) evening during a dinner event hosted to mark the occasion, thanked Japan and JICA on behalf of the government and people of Papua New Guinea in a moving speech, describing Japan as a “sincere and genuine friend”.
He said Japan has continually given assistance and support to PNG without asking for special favours, choosing to be with PNG in its infancy with an economy worth less than US$1 billion to now producing resources such as liquefied natural gas, supplying tuna to Japan, and maintaining a robust democracy.
“Your friendship is sincere. You come to the table without asking us to return the favour. You give fully and I want to say PNG subscribes to the principle of those who give freely, with heart.
“It is intrinsically Melanesian and Christian values that those who come to us with no obligation are those we hold as sincere and genuine friends,” said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said because of Japan’s steadfastness in honouring the PNG-Japan partnership, Papua New Guinea would also honour its side of the bond in trade, commerce and investment with Japan; and further invited Japanese businesses to invest in PNG.
He said, “PNG looks forward to our continued journey for modernization as we make progress from a raw-resource-rich export economy to the manufacturing economy in the next 20 years.
“We too look forward to continue the trade and partnership with you, and in our own small way, contribute to peace and tolerance amidst various stresses we have in our shared Pacific Ocean.
“We look forward to standing in every forum to give Japan the needed support as the true friend of PNG because of a friendship that you forged when we were not yet a nation.
“Today is a remarkable celebration. In 1974, you stepped out in faith and established a first partnership agreement (with PNG) even before we became independent. You were among the fore-runners, working the frontier, preparing our country for Independence. Thank you very much,’’ said Prime Minister Marape.
He noted that Japan, in 1974, was still rebuilding its economy having come out of the great destruction of the World War II yet was still willing to give a hand to Papua New Guinea.
“In 1974, you were only about 30 years out of the great destruction of World War 2. But you taught the world the gains of tolerance, humility, forgiveness and kindness. You submitted to your adversary right after the war and you pursued economic progress for yourself.’’
The celebration of the 50th anniversary of Japan’s ODA to PNG was held at Hilton Hotel, attended by diplomats, government department representatives and various partners of the JICA.