The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the PNG and Indonesian Governments in July this year has enabled the first batch of Indonesian-registered vehicles with passengers having crossed the border to Vanimo, Sandaun Province on Sunday.
The vehicles were spotted in Vanimo during Pope Francis’ Visit to the province.
In a statement, Prime Minister, James Marape welcomed the Indonesians, especially West Papuans who have utilized the MoU signed to cross border into Papua New Guinea, Vanimo, Sandaun Province, to participate in the Papal visit’s program.
PM Marape: “I signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo when I visited Indonesia in early July this year.”
PM explained: “To allow land vehicles to travel across the border into either Papua New Guinea or Indonesia from the other country transporting people and cargo,” is one of the areas under the signed Memorandum of Understanding.”
PM Marape added: “It is heartening to see Indonesians from West Papua travel in vehicles over the border to join in the papal program in Vanimo.
“(PM Marape expressed his intention and stated in a statement): I am heartened to see one of our many works in Foreign Affairs coming to pass, as we continue to expand people-to-people, business-to-business, and government-to-government relationships with our Neighbour.”
“I commend outgoing President Widodo and the Indonesian Government for seeing that the MOU continues to bear fruit, and I commend Minister Foreign Affairs and all members of our team for making it happen as we continue to break down barriers between our two countries,” said PM Marape.
PM Marape described: “Indonesia is a big economy, possesses a huge market and Papua New Guinea has a lot of produce and raw material we can sell there.”
“(Thereafter), This greatly expands the traditional border crossing practice already in existence as Papua New Guineans and Indonesians can move to and from in conducting business, trade and commerce or in people-to-people movement, he said.
He added: “This is historic follows on from the MOU I signed in the last bilateral I had with President Widodo in Jakarta.
” (Therefore) We agreed that land vehicles from either side can travel into either country over the border, whether on the southside, along the border or from south to north.”
And so Prime Minister was especially heartened to note that the movement across the PNG-Indonesian border has directly stemmed from an agreement.