The Russia Government and businesses have been invited to invest in Papua New Guinea.
“Russia is an excited new opportunity for Papua New Guinea, it’s a country we have not been doing business with, and we are excited to engage with Russia,” Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru said.
He revealed the offer had already been put on table to his Russian counterpart during a Bilateral Trade Meeting at the side of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru.
Maru said a Russian trade delegation will be in the country at the end of February 2017, and steps have already been taken to make it happen.
“Russia wants to have a MOA on Trade and Economic Corporation signed before they will undertake the trip and PNG is now awaiting Russia to provide a draft agreement for consideration by our Government so we can sign the MOA to pave the way for the Russian Government to bring a Trade delegation to PNG. The trip is planned for the last week of February 2017,” Maru said.
Maru added that scholarships for Papua New Guineans to study in Russia will be the first discussion on the table.
He said other investment and trade areas both countries will be discussed will only be known after a trade delegation from Russia visit PNG.