By Louisah Frank – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Difference in languages has always been a barrier between countries and ethnic groups to communicate and establish relationships.
For the Papua New Guinean government personnel working on the Indonesian – PNG border, communication is a huge barrier.
The Border Development Authority and Indonesian Embassy, in Port Moresby, are working together to tackle this problem.
13 PNG officials graduated with certificates in Bahasa today, after completing a three – month course on the language.
The course was an initiative of the Border Development Authority working in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby.
BDA Executive Director, Barnabas Neausemale, said the course is a small gesture, but plays a big role
Many Papua New Guineans go to Indonesia to study, however; they find it difficult because they do not understand Bahasa.
Representing the Indonesian Embassy at the graduation, Dr. Sedercor Melatuman, said there is a market for trade between PNG and Indonesia.
He said PNG can learn from his country, but it is important to know Bahasa.
The course is the first of its kind where one or two personnel from government offices such as BDA, Customs and Immigration took part.
Graduates were challenged to take on the responsibility and communicate in Bahasa to make communication more effective at the border and also to establish relationships that will benefit both countries.
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