Jayapura (ANTARA) - The Provincial Government of Papua, Indonesia, is planning to hold a meeting with representatives of Papua New Guinea in a bid to step up mutually beneficial relations with the Melanesian country.

"To that end, we will soon hold a meeting with the Papua New Guinean government," Head of Papua's Border and International Cooperation Agency (BPKLN) Suzana Wanggai remarked in Jayapura on Thursday (June 20).

She highlighted that the meeting would also involve Indonesian officials from the Finance Ministry's Customs and Excise Directorate General, the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

Wanggai underlined that Papua Province and Papua New Guinea had been maintaining harmonious relations through cooperation in the holding of exhibitions dedicated to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), development of cross-border infrastructure, and exports of food and construction materials.

"It should be noted that the Pacific country is a huge export market. Hence, we hope that business actors will be able to seize this opportunity," she pointed out.

The official further highlighted that her side is currently striving to ramp up the value of exports of vegetables and fruits to Papua New Guinea, adding that another MSME exhibition would be held in an area bordering the two countries.

"We will as well soon organize this year's edition of the Border Trade Show annual exhibition that is expected to stimulate the economy in the border," she stated.

According to Wanggai, the upcoming event would be bigger and draw participation not only from Indonesian MSMEs but also those operating in Papua New Guinea.

"Our objective is to introduce Papuan commodities to the neighboring country in the hopes of creating export opportunities," she added.

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Translator: Qadri P, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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