Prime Minister James Marape landed in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the explosive 3rd PNG-Indonesia Annual Leaders’ Dialogue. The action-packed summit runs from July 13 to 15, 2024, and sees Prime Minister Marape face-to-face with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. This high-level meeting, initiated in 2022, promises game-changing agreements and fiery discussions. Marape is not just in Jakarta for dialogue—he is set to fire up the PNG-Indonesia Business Forum on Sunday, July 14, and will meet the powerhouse President-Elect and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who’s set to take office this October. The 3rd Annual Leaders’ Dialogue is ready to roll out four groundbreaking Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) targeting Transport, Education, and Health. These MoUs include the Cross Border Movement for Commercial Buses and Coaches; Cross Border Transport of Goods by Motor Vehicles; Cooperation in Education and Renewed Cooperation in Health. Transport Minister, Walter Schnaubelt is set to ink the transport deals, while Health Minister Dr. Lino Tom and Education Minister Lucas Dekena will seal the health and education pacts – they are part of the high-level PNG delegation who travelled with the prime minister. Since these dialogues began in 2022, PNG-Indonesia relations have skyrocketed, shifting focus from mere border issues to robust business, trade, investment, infrastructure development, agriculture, and cultural exchanges. “Trade and commerce between our countries are booming. Our produce can now find eager markets in Indonesia, and vice versa,” said Marape. “With Indonesia’s massive population of over 270 million, there’s a voracious demand for food, energy, and more. They’re the world’s biggest beef consumers.” “My focus is on tapping into Asia’s markets, including Indonesia, to boost our agricultural exports.” Marape’s power-packed entourage also includes Livestock Minister Seki Agisa, Oil Palm Minister Francis Maneke, International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru, and Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko. “I value this Annual Leaders’ Dialogue as it’s crucial for coordinating and advancing our bilateral relations with Indonesia (and as) President Widodo rightly said, ‘You can choose your friend but not your partner.’” Post-Jakarta, Marape jets to Japan for the Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting (PALM) Summit from Tuesday, July 16 to Thursday, July 18, where he will join other Pacific leaders and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to tackle climate change, environmental funding, and resilience issues. Meantime, back in PNG, Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso takes on the responsibility of acting Prime Minister during Marape’s absence. The PNG delegation is expected to return on Friday, July 19, by which time, the Opposition’s Vote of No Confidence (VoNC) motion case returns to the Supreme Court in Waigani for further directions.