Grant Assistance to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea Signing and Exchange of Notes on “the Economic and Social Development Programme (Fishery Research Vessel)” and “the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship”

On August 22, in Port Moresby, the capital of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, H.E. Mr. WATANABE Nobuyuki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and the Honourable Justin TKATCHENKO, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, signed and exchanged notes for “the Economic and Social Development Programme (Fishery Research Vessel)” and “the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship” (project up to 1.078 billion yen).

1. “The Economic and Social Development Programme (Fishery Research Vessel)” (up to 700 million yen)
   This cooperation aims to promote sustainable fisheries development in PNG where the fisheries industry is an essential source of income, by providing a fisheries research vessel and other equipment to be used to continue watching increases and decreases in the volume and distribution of fisheries resources.
2. “The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship” (up to 378 million yen)
   This cooperation helps young administrative officials who are expected to engage in policy making to obtain master’s degrees at graduate schools in Japan. This will be the first cooperation of this kind to PNG. It is expected that the human resources developed through this cooperation will contribute to solving development issues in various fields in PNG in the future, as well as to building mutual understanding and friendly relations between Japan and PNG.
3. In the “Leaders Declaration” and the “Joint Action Plan” issued at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held on July 18, Japan has announced “People-centered Development” and ”Ocean and Environment” as one of the priority areas of cooperation, and this project will help to realize the Plan.

(Reference1) Basic Data on PNG

The Independent State of Papua New Guinea covers 462 thousand square kilometers (about 1.25 times the size of Japan) and has a population of approximately 10.143 million people. It has a per capita gross national income (GNI) of US$2,700 (2022, World Bank).

(Reference2) 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10)

On July 18, the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was co-chaired by Prime Minister KISHIDA and Prime Minister BROWN of the Cook Islands, the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The Meeting was attended by the leaders and representatives of 19 countries, regions and regional organization including Japan, 14 Pacific Island countries, two French overseas collectivities, Australia, and New Zealand, and the chair of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Prime Minister James Marape represented the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.
The Government of Japan announced Japan’s commitment to continue its robust development assistance and support for more than 6,500 people-to-people exchanges as well as human resource development over the next three years based on the seven priority areas of cooperation which are in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent or “2050 Strategy” of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): (1) Political Leadership and Regionalism, (2) People-centered Development, (3) Peace and Security, (4) Resources and Economic Development, (5) Climate Change and Disasters, (6) Ocean and Environment, (7) Technology and Connectivity.