Monday 22 May 2023

Prime Minister Modi pays a courtesy call on Governor General Grand Chief Bob Dadae at Government House this morning .

The Governor General, Grand Chief Bob Dadae, today  received the  Prime Minister of India H.E. Shri Narendra Modi at Government House.

Prime Minister Modi paid a Courtesy Call on the Governor General this morning at 9am.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Port Moresby on Sunday evening (21 May).

In his welcome remarks, Grand Chief Sir Bob acknowledged the government and people of India for their continued support to PNG in which he says has strengthened the close relationship between PNG and India

Grand Chief Sir Bob remarked that PNG and India have many similarities and both countries have a rich cultural background.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, I want to thank the Government and people of India for your continuous support and assistance rendered in the areas of information technology and through sharing of skills and know-how which you have continued to impart to our people.

“We are fortunate to have many highly skilled Indians in the country in various fields who also provide training for our people.

“ This has contributed to the close diplomatic and people to people relations between our countries,” Grand Chief Sir Bob said.

Prime Minister Modi informed the Governor General that he was impressed with the warm welcome he received on arrival yesterday evening and the preparations that went into organizing the Forum of India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) which will be held today.

“I am the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Papua New Guinea and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for the excellence in which Papua New Guinea has put into organizing the FIPIC.

“ It has left an impressive mark on me as well as the people of India. This shows the capability you have to organize important occasions such as the FIPIC,” Prime Minister Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi remarked that the purpose of the FIPIC is for India to showcase and promote the importance of capacity building as an important foundation for countries in the Pacific region.

Prime Minister Modi noted that Climate Change is a significant issue for the Pacific region and that India supports the call to address and find solutions to this issue in global forums and alliances it is part of.

He added that, since India took presidency of the G20 last year, it’s mantra of ‘One Sun, One World and One Grid’ is geared towards the conservation of renewable energy on a global stage for global welfare.

The Indian Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to Papua New Guinea for its support towards India’s International Solar Alliance which the Prime Minister had advocated for in 2015 and which PNG was one of the first countries to sign on as a member. 

The objective of the Alliance is to promote efficient consumption of solar energy over fossil fuels.

At the conclusion of his Courtesy Call on the Governor General, Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to the Governor General to visit India.

“Since this  is my first visit to Papua New Guinea, and a first for an Indian Prime Minister, I would like to also invite you to visit India and I look forward to welcome you,” the Prime Minister said.

The Indian Prime Minister will co-host the FIPIC Leaders’ Summit  this morning  and depart the country later in the afternoon.

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