Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita attended the 50th Independence Day celebrations of Papua New Guinea on September 16. The grand ceremony was held at Independence Hill near the Parliament in Port Moresby.
Ahead of the event, Margherita met Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape and conveyed greetings on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India. Both leaders held discussions on strengthening bilateral trade relations.
During his visit, the Minister of State also interacted with business leaders of Papua New Guinea and members of the Indian community. Sharing details on social media, Margherita said he had “productive and engaging discussions” with leading businesspersons, including Indian entrepreneurs in the textile sector, to explore ways of enhancing trade ties.
He also attended a community gathering, noting the role of over 4,000 Indians in Papua New Guinea who contribute to cultural, economic, and community ties between the two countries.
Papua New Guinea had invited Prime Minister Modi for the occasion, but as he could not attend, Margherita represented India. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the visit builds on the momentum of the third Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit, chaired by Prime Minister Modi in Port Moresby in May 2023, and reaffirms India’s engagement with Pacific Island countries.
