India high commissioner visits Chan



India High Commissioner A.M. Gondane posing for a picture with Mining Minister Byron Chan.



INDIA's high commissioner His Excellency A.M Gondane made a courtesy call on mining minister Byron Chan’s office recently to discuss investment opportunities that India would like to explore in the mining and petroleum sector in Papua New Guinea.

Mr Gondane who took office three weeks ago after serving as Ambassador in Washington was mostly impressed about the country’s overall economic growth performance of eight percent which he said is similar to India.

   

On a diplomatic note he said India and Papua New Guinea are developing nations and share similar development setbacks including poverty, health, education and over population and there needs to be  greater cooperation between the two countries. 

     

One important aspect of their meeting was the need to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place between the PNG Government and the Central Government of India.

The MOU in their brief discussions have looked at several key issues that would be more beneficial to the mining sector in PNG which India has agreed to provide through its ministry of mining.

This includes:

• Development of skills – skills training
• Procurement of machinery
• Information & Technology
• Mining related issues – tailor made solutions
• State Enterprise participation; and
• Investment protection agreement

“We would like to participate and we are ready in areas of exploration and extraction where we would like our relationship to be respectable to host country,” Mr Gondane said.

Minister Chan who was impressed by the high commissioner’s visit and the discussions said he will consult his department.

“I would require the department to look into drafting a MOU for this cause as I believe the MOU is a way forward for the country,” he said.