The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) of Papua New Guinea has today marked another milestone in its long-standing partnership with Japan by signing a Consultant Agreement with Japan’s Fisheries Engineering Co., Ltd at the Okura Hotel in Tokyo. NFA Managing Director, Mr. Justin Ilakini, and his NFA team was joined by officials from the Department of National Planning and the Department of Foreign Affairs, who witnessed the signing that underscores the strong bilateral cooperation between Papua New Guinea and Japan, particularly in the fisheries sector, which remains a critical pillar of PNG’s economic development and food security. Mr. Ilakini expressed profound gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their ongoing commitment and support. “I would like to say thank you to the Government and people of Japan for gifting us this very important project.” “Fifty years from now, this moment will still be remembered as a significant turning point for the fisheries sector and the people of Papua New Guinea,” said Mr. Ilakini. He emphasized that, in alignment with Prime Minister James Marape’s message to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba earlier this week, Japan remains a true and enduring partner to PNG. “It has been my greatest privilege and honour to be part of this historic event and to sign this agreement, which reaffirms our partnership and commitment to sustainable fisheries development,” he added. The Consultant Agreement paves the way for the implementation of a transformative fisheries project in Kavieng, New Ireland Province. Demolition works are scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2025, allowing the official groundbreaking ceremony to take place in September and full construction is set to begin in November. The total project value is K111 million, with K92 million funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and K20 million committed by the Papua New Guinea Government through the NFA. President of Fisheries Engineering Co., Ltd, Mr. Uchida Akira, thanked the NFA for its collaboration and assured all parties that preparatory works were on schedule. “We are fully committed to ensuring all documentation and groundwork is completed by August to allow the groundbreaking event in September.” “We look forward to delivering a world-class facility for the people of Papua New Guinea,” Mr. Akira said. This project aligns with PNG’s National Tuna Domestication Policy and focuses on enhancing capacity in coastal fisheries, post-harvest processing, commercial fishing, and sustainable marine resource management. Over the past 12 months, Prime Minister Marape has strengthened PNG’s global partnerships, deepening economic and development cooperation with nations including China, Australia, the United States, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, and especially Japan. His diplomatic outreach, anchored by the principle of “friends to all, enemies to none,” has positioned PNG as a responsible and visionary regional leader. As Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of independence, the country is forging its most robust network of international partnerships to date. The next challenge is to ensure these relationships translate into tangible opportunities for the people — through jobs, infrastructure, and sustainable growth.