Richard Maru

Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru said the current number of Papua New Guineans going for New Zealand for fruit picking, work, and study is less than smaller Pacific Island member states.

He raised this with his New Zealand counterpart at a Bilateral Trade Meeting at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru last month.  

“Yes, I told them that Papua New Guinea is dissatisfied with number of Papua New Guineans working and schooling in New Zealand, and also in Australia in that matter,” Maru said.  

Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru revealed this in a media conference in Port Moresby.

He said visa on arrival for tourists and business visas for Papua New Guineans and New Zealanders were discussed with New Zealand Trade Minister in a Bilateral Trade Meeting at the side of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru.

Minister Maru also said a PNG Trade Investment Road show and educational tour will be organised early next year for PNG businesses and government departments to learn from their counterparts.

“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.     

Maru in a media conference this morning revealed that it was one of the issues he raised with his Philippines counterpart during the Bilateral Trade Meeting at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru.

He said now a formal diplomatic letter will be written to the Philippines Government raising the issue and request for a Duty Free Market for PNG goods exported to the Asian country of over 100 million people.   

Minister Maru said currently the trading of goods favour Philippines.

“More than 30, 000 Filipinos are working in Papua New Guinea.    

Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru when speaking at the officially opening of a four in one double classroom at Bugusu Elementary School in the West Yangoru LLG of Yangoru-Saussia District recently said the results of education level is frightening.

He told the packed crowd that statistics have shown that from the top 40 schools in PNG that  enroll Grade 12’s,none of them were from  East Sepik Province.

Chairman of Livestock Export Corporation of Meat and Livestock Association of Australia, David Galvin, said this after touring the Sepik Plains last weekend.

Galvin came to the Sepik Plains at the invitation of Member for Yangoru Saussia and Minister for Trade Commerce and Industry Richard Maru.

The people of Kamatogu village have expressed gratitude to the local member and Minister for Trade Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru, for recognizing their need to have road access.

These people have had no road or access to basic services like health and education for the past 41 years.

Children walk kilometers to attend schools and the sick die along the road whilst walking distances to seek medical treatment.

The Local MP and Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry made this remarks during the opening of the road linking Haniak village to the Sepik Highway.

The village is under the Numbo LLG of the district.

The 1km road was constructed at the cost of K100,000 under the District Services Improvement Funds.

Present to witness the road opening was the former Secretary for the Department of National Planning, Valentine Kambori who originates from Haniak village.

Maru said Numbo LLG had received tremendous support in terms of funding in his first term in office.

This followed a fact finding trip to Papua New Guinea approved by the Fiji Government concluded this week.

The delegation included Fiji Trade Commissioner to PNG Navitalai Tuivuniwai, Biosecurity Authority (BAF) of Fiji chief veterinarian Dr Sian Watson, BAF chief plant protection officer Nilesh Ami Chand, and BAF trade facilitation and compliance team leader Ronal Prasad.

Fiji for 12 years had banned the import of PNG Made Ox and Palm canned meat, Paradise Biscuits and Trukai Rice claiming the products did not meet its biosecurity requirements which Minister Maru and the National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) deny.

A delegation from Fiji is in the country to hold talks with relevant government officers and manufacturers of the banned products to find a solution to the trade dispute.

The proposed MSG trade agreement Number 3 will cover services and labour mobility for member states.