India offers technology, manpower to Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY: India on Friday offered Papua New Guinea its technology, financial wherewithal, skilled manpower and institutional support to harness the mineral-rich country's abundant natural resources and establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures.
Addressing the business leaders of Papua New Guinea, President Pranab Mukherjee underlined that the Pacific country's economic growth does not truly reflect the potential of a country blessed with abundant natural and mineral resources, highly fertile soil, fresh water and an extensive coastline teeming with fish and precious seafood.
"The challenge for Papua New Guinea is how to best utilise these abundant natural resources for value addition, generating employment and economically empowering her people," he told members of the Papua New Guinea Business Council here.
Mukherjee, who arrived here on a two-day visit on Thursday, becoming the first Indian President to visit Papua New Guinea, said the exclusive economic zone of PNG, spread in 3.1 million square kilometer is the guarantee of future growth of this region and would provide the opportunity to the island country to lead the Pacific Ocean.
"From our experiences we can suggest to the government and policy makers of Papua New Guinea, that if you want to achieve self sufficiency in food production, you can achieve it with the application of appropriate technologies, by increasing yield per hectare, by the use of varieties of new fertilisers and an effective use of fresh water," he said.
The President said India's policies have created an environment for indigenous commercial, industrial and manufacturing entities to grow and sustain themselves.
"Today our private sector has journeyed far and wide. In Britain, our former colonial masters, the largest industrial employer today is an Indian conglomerate. Our companies create value and not merely extract resources. India invites you to partner with them," he said.
Mukherjee said economic and commercial relations between the two countries have not grown in proportion to the actual capabilities and capacities, but today both recognize that they stand at the cusp of a breakthrough.
"Both India and Papua New Guinea are poised to build up on the synergies that exist between our two nations. India has the financial wherewithal; technological strength, skilled manpower and institutional support that can help establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures," he said.