Japan to host meeting

By NATHAN WOTI in Tokyo, Japan
DIALOGUE on climate change and sustainable economic development resilience involving the vision for a Blue Pacific will continue at next month’s 10th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM10) in Tokyo, Japan.
This was confirmed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.
The Japanese government has invested more than K22 billion in Papua New Guinea since its independence through aid grants and loans through its official development assistance programme as well as the Japanese International Cooperation Agency’s (Jica) aid support.
Japan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said strong networking and economic development ties with Pacific Island countries had strengthened Japan’s presence in the region.
Ahead of PALM10, reporters representing PNG, Samoa, Fiji and Palau were invited by the Japanese government for an overview of its economic and climate change initiative in the Pacific.
PALM10 will open up discussion on Japan’s further involvement in the region as it works to help Pacific Island nations address the impacts of climate change and other agendas such as protecting the Blue Pacific against environmental damages and illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing.
The ministry said PALM9, held in Fiji in 2018, was based on provisions of Coronavirus vaccines, sustainable oceans based on the rule of law, climate change and disaster resilience, strengthening foundations for sustainable and resilient economic development, and people-to-people and human resource development. For PNG, Japan has supported the following areas:

• STRENGTHENING the foundation for economic growth (support for infrastructure development);
• IMPROVEMENT of social services (support for schools, healthcare, medical); and,
• ENVIRONMENTAL and Climate Change (support for disaster prevention, waste management, and forest conservation).

Meanwhile, when asked whether the national government had updated the Japanese government on its loan programmes, a ministry official (name withheld) said the Japanese government understood the inflationary pressures in PNG along with its International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, and was monitoring the situation.
The official said PNG was a “debt risk” state and Japan would monitor its economic restructure through the IMF programme and advise accordingly.
When asked if Japan would consider reintroducing direct Air Niugini flights to Japan, the official said Japan was open to dialogue, and would consider the airline once negotiations and economic opportunities opened up in the future.