Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru has revealed that PNG is committed to ‘deepening and widening’ the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) with the European Union.
In a media conference today, Maru said this is to cover additional products beyond canned tuna and make provision for accession of additional new members within the Pacific ACP group to join iEPA.
Maru said he had fruitful talks with the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Trade, Madam Cecilia Malmstrom after attending the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Trade Ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium on June 26.
Minister Maru was accompanied by PNG Ambassador to EU, Joshua Kalinoe and Trade, Commerce and Industry Secretary, John Andrias.
He congratulated Madam Malmstrom on her appointment as the EU Trade commissioner in 2014 and reaffirmed PNG’s continued commitment to implement the iEPA it (PNG) entered into with the European Union in 2012 throughout her term in office.
Maru also expressed PNG’s interest to secure EU scholarships for post graduate studies in Europe as part of the human resource development for the country.
He pointed out that another area where PNG will be seeking bilateral assistance from EU is for the establishment of a fully accredited laboratory for product testing and certification to meet the EU market requirements under the iEPA duty free-quota free arrangements.
He asked that it be done in partnership with one of our universities so our students can learn the high technical standards of the European Union.
Maru also told the Trade Commissioner that the PNG government will be making a formal representation for a visa waiver arrangement with EU for PNG citizens entering EU member states for business and pleasure.
He said plans were underway for PNG to mount more trade and investment missions to EU member states in the years to come after the successful Trade and Investment Road show officiated over by the Prime Minister for PNG in London.