International relationship between Papua New Guinea and India

“international relationship between Papua New Guinea and India”:

INDIA AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA : A Growing Partnership

India and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are two Commonwealth countries that share a warm and cordial relationship. They established diplomatic relations in 1975, when PNG gained independence from Australia. Since then, they have cooperated on various issues of mutual interest, such as trade, investment, education, health, energy, and regional security.

India has a High Commission in Port Moresby, the capital of PNG, while PNG has a High Commission in New Delhi. The two countries have also exchanged several high-level visits, including the visit of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee to PNG in 2016, the first ever by an Indian head of state. PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has also visited India several times, most recently in 2018 for the founding conference of the International Solar Alliance.

Trade and Investment

India and PNG have a growing economic partnership, with bilateral trade reaching US$ 239 million in 2010-11. India’s main exports to PNG include textiles, machinery, food items, pharmaceuticals, and surgical equipment. India’s main imports from PNG are gold, copper, timber, copra, marine products, coffee, vanilla, and cocoa. India also provides concessional lines of credit and grants to PNG for various development projects.

India and PNG have also signed several agreements to enhance their economic cooperation, such as the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA), the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The EPA aims to facilitate more Indian investments and infrastructure projects in PNG, especially in the energy sector.

PNG is rich in natural gas resources and has several ongoing projects to develop them. India’s state-owned gas company GAIL is exploring opportunities to participate in some of these projects. India is also interested in importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from PNG to meet its growing energy demand.

Education and Health

India and PNG have a strong collaboration in the fields of education and health. India offers scholarships and training programs to PNG students and officials under various schemes, such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and the Colombo Plan. India also provides assistance to PNG in setting up educational institutions, such as the India-PNG Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) at the University of Papua New Guinea.

India has also extended its support to PNG in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. India donated 132,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to PNG under the COVAX facility in March 2021. India also sent a team of medical experts and supplies to PNG in April 2021 to help with testing, treatment, and vaccination.

Regional and Global Cooperation

India and PNG share common views on many regional and global issues. They work closely together in various international fora, such as the United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). India is a dialogue partner of the PIF and has announced several initiatives to enhance its engagement with the Pacific island countries, including PNG.

India and PNG also cooperate on issues such as climate change, sustainable development, maritime security, counter-terrorism, and cyber security. They support each other’s candidature for various international bodies and offices. They also celebrate their cultural ties through events such as the International Day of Yoga and the Festival of India.

Conclusion

India and Papua New Guinea have a long-standing and friendly relationship that is based on mutual respect and trust. They have a shared vision of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. They have a dynamic and diversified partnership that covers various areas of cooperation. They are committed to further strengthening their ties for the benefit of their people and the world at large.