President Widodo and Prime Minister Marape formally opened the Inaugural PNG-Indonesia Business Forum wherein President Widodo officially launched the Citilink flight from Denpasar to Port Moresby.

The establishment of the PNG-Indonesia Business Forum will provide a platform for PNG and Indonesia businesses and investors to collectively collaborate to increase trade between our both countries going forward.

Ahead of Widodo’s visit, Indonesia’s national airline Garuda, through its Citilink subsidiary, on Sunday began twice-a-week flights between Port Moresby and Denpasar, Bali for the first time.

Widodo, who has made improving Indonesia’s infrastructure a mainstay policy of his presidency, said Indonesia wants to help Papua New Guinea’s efforts to build more roads. Much of mountainous Papua New Guinea is accessible only by light plane.

“The business relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea have reached unprecedented levels,” Prime Minister Marape declared.

“We have opened the doors for increased business-to-business engagements between our two countries.”

To facilitate this collaboration at the highest level, Prime Minister Marape announced the establishment of a task force, led by Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso and International Trade and Investment Minister Hon. Richard Maru, in partnership with the Indonesian counterparts

Prime Minister James Marape extended his heartfelt appreciation to Indonesian President H.E. Joko Widodo for his immensely successful one-day visit to Papua New Guinea as the visit resulted in several significant accomplishments and outcomes.