Prime Minister Hon. James Marape will represent Papua New Guinea at the inauguration of H.E. Prabowo Subianto as the eighth President of the Republic of Indonesia, scheduled for Sunday, October 20, 2024, at the Senayan Parliament Complex in Jakarta. President-elect Subianto, a distinguished former military general and long-standing political figure, will be inaugurated alongside Vice President- elect H.E. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of outgoing President H.E. Joko Widodo.
The inauguration ceremony will be attended by an array of esteemed international dignitaries, including leaders and high-ranking representatives. Key Indonesian figures, including former Presidents Megawati Sukarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will also be present, underscoring the significance of this occasion in the nation’s history.
Prime Minister Marape’s participation highlights the robust state of PNG-Indonesia relations, which have grown markedly stronger over recent years. President-elect Subianto and Prime Minister Marape engaged in a productive dialogue during the President-elect’s visit to Port Moresby in August, reaffirming mutual commitments to further collaboration between the two nations.
The Prime Minister also recently held discussions with outgoing President Widodo during the 3rd PNG-Indonesia Annual Leaders’ Dialogue, hosted in Jakarta from July 13-15, 2024. Since its inception in Jakarta in 2022, this Dialogue has become a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation, paving the way for increased engagement across multiple sectors.
In August, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso led a PNG government delegation to Indonesia, seeking to promote trade and investment opportunities for Papua New Guinean businesses in Indonesian markets. This delegation included prominent leaders, such as International Trade and Investment Minister Hon. Richard Maru and Labor Minister Hon. Kessy Sawang, as well as key figures from the private sector, signalling a deepening of economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Reflecting on Indonesia’s progress, Prime Minister Marape remarked: “The remarkable growth of Indonesia, our closest neighbour, from a developing nation to a global economic powerhouse, is nothing short of extraordinary. Indonesia’s success in sectors such as downstream processing of minerals and LNG, agriculture, tourism, and SMEs offers invaluable lessons for Papua New Guinea. As Indonesia ascends to the world stage, we have much to gain by collaborating and learning from their journey.
“Indonesia’s economy, the largest in Southeast Asia, stands as a testament to what can be achieved through strategic vision and determination. As an upper-middle-income country and a G20 member, Indonesia’s economic transformation is truly inspiring. In 2023, its nominal GDP reached 20.892 quadrillion rupiah (approximately $1.371 trillion), establishing it as the 16th largest economy globally by nominal GDP and the 7th largest by GDP (PPP). With an internet economy projected to exceed $130 billion by 2025, Indonesia is on a clear path toward becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2045.
“While our historical Indonesia-PNG dialogues often focused on border security, today’s discussions embrace a broader spectrum, including business investment, education, and health. I look forward to attending President-elect Subianto’s inauguration and strengthening the shared bonds that unite our nations. During our meeting in Port Moresby in August, the President-elect pledged to preserve Melanesian heritage and customs in West Papua, and I look forward to seeing this commitment fulfilled.”