Sweden diplomat impressed with projects

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Papua New Guinea, Pär Ahlberger is impressed with Sweden’s strong engagement in the Pacific through United Nations and European Union funded projects.

In his recent visit to Port Moresby to present his credentials to the Governor General Grand Chief Sir Michael Ogio, Ahlberger said Papua New Guinea and Sweden had a shared commitment to the UN and it was essential that the voices of small island developing states in the Pacific region were heard in the UN climate change negotiations.

“Climate change is the challenge of our time; it is a top priority for the Government of Sweden and cooperative responses are needed,” Ahlberger said.

He also paid a visit to the United Nations Development Fund office, the Ombudsman Commission, Buk Bilong Pikinini and the Haus Ruth Safe Refuge Centre, which is an EU funded project addressing gender-based violence.

Ahlberger also met with political leaders, government officials and representatives from the diplomatic as well as the business community.

He was accompanied by his wife, staff from the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra and an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden and the Honorary Consul of Sweden in Papua New Guinea, Trevan Clough.