India offers $100-million infra fund to Papua New Guinea

Port Moresby, April 29 

Seeking to strengthen bilateral ties and ensuring energy security, India today offered a $100 million line of credit for development of infrastructure in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and agreed to jointly develop new avenues of cooperation to explore and develop the Pacific nation’s vast oil and gas resources.

India, during a meeting between visiting President Pranab Mukherjee and his PNG counterpart Sir Michael Ogio, also offered a coastal surveillance radar system and Coast Guard patrol vessels to the country as part of its commitment for the mutual maritime security initiative.

After the completion of the maiden two-day visit to PNG by President Mukherjee, the two sides in a joint statement highlighted various international and regional issues, including terrorism, India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council and maritime security.

The two sides agreed to establish a mechanism for regular consultations between the Foreign Ministries of both countries aimed at diversifying bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest.

Visa-on-arrival facility for Indians

PNG announced a visa-on-arrival facility for Indian tourists travelling to the Pacific Island as a “gesture of reciprocity” as India has already approved a similar facility for the nationals of all Pacific Island countries since last year. — PTI