Opening of new missions good

THE decision by the PNG Government to open four new embassies around the world is a good move to strengthen bilateral relations with these countries.
The four new embassies will be set up in Thailand, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Israel and Switzerland.
Just by looking at this countries one can assume the various economic and political benefits we can receive from these advanced countries in terms of knowledge and skills transfer, capital investments, downstream processing facilities, market availability, governance structures, anti-corruption and institutional capacities and zero-tolerance policies on fraud, among others.
These four embassies will add to the 21 other overseas missions already in operation.
Twenty-five overseas missions for PNG must be translated to tangible benefits for our citizens and businesses.
The heads of these missions must have direct links in terms of people-to-people, business-to-business and government-to-government relations in their respective assignments.
In recent years, we have hardly heard or seen any PNG overseas missions making impact in foreign relations in countries they represent us.
The annual cost of maintaining these 21 missions in various foreign currencies should equate to a substantial amount in millions of Kina.
The cost of salaries, utilities, rentals, etc, when put together is deemed to be substantial.
If the benefits derived are equally measured and outweigh the costs then it is worthwhile maintaining those missions.
Whilst the country is battling with foreign currency issues, the challenge on the heads of those missions is closely scrutinised to see what they are doing to increase the direct foreign exchange inputs by various economic engagements effectively linked to Papua New Guinea.

Philip Ukuni