By Vasinatta Yama, EM TV – Mt Hagen
The South Korean Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Kang Kym Gu said South Korea will continue to maintain stronger economic ties with PNG.
Speaking during the launching of the Kundiawa-Gembolg Electorate’s Five Year Development Plan 2018 to 2022 on Saturday (24 November 2018), Kym Gu said PNG and South Korea’s friendship will be strengthened through the trading of commodities.
The Five Year Development Plan focuses more on tourism and agriculture.
The South Korean Ambassador to PNG says South Korea will continue to trade with PNG, which will contribute to the security and capacity building of both countries.
Kym Gu says the close friendship between the two Countries will also promote economic and cultural growth.
The Ambassador was in Chimbu over the weekend, to look into the bulb onion market in the Province, as a majority of the population of South Korea consumes bulb onions daily.
Talks are underway to partner with South Korea to extend the marketing of bulb onion overseas. The Five Year Development Plan will be a game changer for the people of Kundiawa Gembolg.
It is designed for people to become economically liberated and empowered in the long term in order to improve their living standards.
The Kundiawa-Gembolg electorate is one of the districts in PNG which has the potential to produce bulb onion in large scale.
It also has the potential to attract tourists, since it houses the seventh tallest mountain in the world, Mt Wilhelm.
Kundiawa-Gembolg MP, William Onglo says that growers in his electorate will be able to do downstream processing of bulb onions in Simbu from pre-harvesting to pro-harvesting and packaging.
The initiative is also supported by Chimbu Governor, Michael Dua, who will pilot Kundiawa-Gembolg electorate to grow bulb onion and potatoes in bulk.
Dua will also identify local markets for growers.
The five-year development plan is designed to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and PNG’s Vision 2050 to be responsible and sustainable.
Ambassador Kym Gu encouraged the members of parliament to do economic activities, which will be socio-economic friendly and will benefit the majority of the people.
He says South Korea will maintain close ties with PNG in terms of trading commodities and friendship.
