JICA President Akihiko Tanaka visited Papua New Guinea (PNG) from April 17 to 20 to inspect JICA’s cooperation projects and meet with Prime Minister Malape, Foreign Minister Tkachenko, and other government officials.
PNG has the largest land area of any Pacific island nation and is considered a regional powerhouse, rich in mineral resources such as gold and copper, and natural resources such as oil and natural gas. On the other hand, the traditional concept of land ownership has limited the amount of state-owned land, and delays in the development of basic infrastructure such as transportation and electricity have hindered economic development and contributed to poverty. Improving public security is also an issue, and orderly development and growth are required.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Malape and Foreign Minister Tkachenko, President Tanaka noted that Japan and PNG are long-time partners and that they look forward to continuing their solid cooperative relationship. Prime Minister Malape expressed his appreciation for the quality of projects implemented by JICA and his desire to continue to conduct people-to-people and economic exchanges to support the development of both countries. The two leaders confirmed the need to further strengthen the relationship between Japan and PNG through ODA.
Mr. Tanaka, together with Deputy Prime Minister Rosso and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Schnobel, visited the construction site of the soon-to-be-completed “Nazab Airport Development Project,” a grant aid project, and attended the nameplate-unveiling ceremony. The airport will contribute to the further development of PNG. At the ceremony, the Minister thanked JICA for its cooperation and announced that the airport will be renamed NADZAB TOMODACHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT upon completion, in order to express the close relationship between PNG and Japan.
Rey is the center of commerce and industry in PNG, and it is essential to urgently address the rapidly increasing demand for electricity. Chairman Tanaka visited the Erap Substation, which was expanded as part of the grant aid “Ram Grid Grid Reinforcement Project,” and confirmed the construction of 138 km of transmission lines and the construction, expansion, and renovation of substation facilities. The President of the PNG Electricity Generating Authority expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support for the project, which will provide a stable supply of electricity to the region centering on Rey, and his expectation that the project will revitalize the economy and improve the living environment of the local residents.
JICA has developed math and science textbooks and teacher’s manuals for grades 4 through 6 in PNG. Currently, JICA is preparing teaching materials for students in the science and mathematics departments of teacher training colleges and instructional manuals for instructors so that future teachers can use these textbooks appropriately and provide high-quality education. Chancellor Tanaka visited the Educational Media Center, with which Japan has been cooperating for many years, and observed the creation of remote teaching materials using the science and mathematics textbooks and teacher’s manuals that have been developed so far. Chancellor Tanaka expressed his hope for the JICA technical cooperation project to support the training of primary education teachers, saying that education is the cornerstone of a country’s development and that long-term efforts are needed.
Chancellor Tanaka also visited PNG National University and interacted with students in the JICA Chair, which opened in February 2022, to study the process of Japan’s modernization and economic growth and consider the development of their own country. In response to questions from students about the background of Japan’s successful modernization, Chancellor Tanaka expressed her hope that the JICA Chair’s lecture would help them learn about Japan’s experience and think about how to shape their own society.
© Source JICA
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