Signing for the Exchanges of Notes on three grant assistances for improvement of cultural asset conservation, medical service and maritime security

On 20 April 2023, Ambassador Nobuyuki Watanabe and Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea signed Exchange of Notes, for three (3) development cooperation programmes between PNG and Japan in the presence of Rt. Hon. James Marape, Prime Minister of PNG and Professor Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA. The programmes are as follows.
 
1 Improvement of Audio-visual Equipment and Facility of the PNG National Museum and Arts Gallery
This programme comprises the provision of audio-visual equipment and facility for the PNG National Museum and Arts Gallery through JICA, at the cost of 72.6 million Japanese yen or approximately 1.9 million kina. These equipment will conserve cultural assets for a long time and be utilised as educational material.  
 
2 The Economic and Social Development Programme for improvement of medical service
This programme comprises the provision of medical containers and medical equipment, which is worth 250 million yen or approximately 6.4 million kina. This programme intends to strengthen access and quality of medical services, especially in the rural areas.
 
3 The Economic and Social Development Programme for improvement of maritime security
This programme is an additional grant of 186 million yen or approximately 4.8 million kina, which is an additional contribution to the 1 billion yen for the programme signed in June 2020 to provide three rescue boats and telecommunication equipment for maritime security. The additional contribution was necessary as there was a shortfall due to recent increases prices of goods and services.
 
These programmes are expected to contribute to strengthening the cooperation between Japan and PNG and more so, the friendship between the people and governments of Japan and PNG.