Prime Minister James Marape has commended Minister for Fisheries & Marine Resources, Jelta Wong, for his role in boosting regional cooperation in fisheries. This praise follows the appointment of Mr. Noan Pakop, the first Papua New Guinean as the new head of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (PIFFA). Prime Minister Marape declared his support for the East New Britain Pacific Industrial Park initiative, which aims to enhance the catching, processing, and exporting of tuna for Papua New Guinea and potentially other Pacific Islands Forum member countries. “I am proud of the ENB fisheries initiative and Minister Wong’s leadership,” Marape said. “Minister Wong has shown exemplary leadership in driving the East New Britain initiative and recently, across the region in pushing for the appointment of Mr. Pakop to head PIFFA.” Pakop’s recent appointment by the 23rd Forum Fisheries Committee Ministers in Honiara, Solomon Islands, is a significant milestone. He is the first Papua New Guinean to hold the position of PIFFA Director General since the agency's establishment in 1979. Marape emphasized the importance of Pakop's experience, stating, “Mr. Pakop’s candidacy was endorsed by the National Executive Council, and we are confident he will represent the region in a professional manner bringing to the fore his years of experience in the sector.” The East New Britain Industrial Park initiative, supported by PM Marape, aims to foster innovation and development across multiple sectors, including transport, communications, customs, immigration, labour mobility, and international trade, besides fisheries. This initiative was endorsed at the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum and discussed at the recent Japan-Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting in Tokyo. Highlighting the significance of the location, Marape said, “East New Britain was chosen because of the availability of Rabaul port, and the social stability offered by the people of East New Britain.” Prime Minister Marape encouraged other ministers to support the initiative, noting that it has the potential to benefit not just PNG but all small island nations of the Pacific by promoting onshore tuna processing.