PNG TO SEND TEAM FOR OSAKA WORLD EXPO

By Ricky ISRAEL

The Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, has officially sent off Papua New Guinea’s team to the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The Expo will take place from April 13 to October 13, 2025.
The team, led by Commissioner General Ambassador of Section PNG Gabriel Dusava, will leave this Sunday.

Other officials from key government agencies will join them in the coming weeks. Minister Maru stressed the importance of the team’s mission to showcase PNG at the Expo, focusing on opportunities for trade, tourism, and investment.

“We are going to Japan to show our friendship with the people of Japan and deepen the strong relationship we’ve had for fifty years,” Minister Maru said. “We will not only take part in the Expo but also hold the first-ever PNG-Japan Trade and Investment Conference. We want to promote Japanese investment in sectors like fisheries, energy, mining, petroleum, and manufacturing.”

He also mentioned the importance of improving tourism. Last year, only 293 Japanese tourists visited PNG, while Fiji welcomed 20,000, and Cairns, Australia, had over 200,000. One reason for this is the lack of flights between Japan and PNG. Minister Maru is working with the government and other partners to secure funding to restart direct flights to Japan. He believes this will boost tourism and investment.

“Without direct flights, it’s hard to promote our country. We are working closely with the government to secure support for this vital route,” he said.

Minister Maru also shared plans to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Japan. This agreement would support PNG’s future markets, including coffee, gold, and gas, while competing with countries like Australia.

The Expo in Osaka will have virtual setups both, and PNG will also host a national day and the PNG-Japan Trade and Investment Conference in Tokyo this July as it will be a in person setup.
Minister Maru has announced that Central, Western Highlands, and East New Britain provinces will participate in both the Expo and the conference.

The government has allocated almost K10 million for PNG’s participation in the Expo for. The Minister will visit Japan later this month to further strengthen trade ties and explore opportunities for PNG’s products.

Ambassador Dusava said the team is ready for the Expo and has been working hard for several months to prepare.
This expo is a key event for PNG to present its potential on the global stage.