Prime Minister James Marape says Papua New Guinea can learn so much from Israel, especially in the area of agriculture technology.
He said this in Parliament on Friday (October 14, 2022) when answering a question from Morobe Governor, Luther Wenge, on the possibility of PNG setting up an embassy in Israel and vice-versa in light of PNG being a Christian country.
PM Marape said the idea of a PNG Embassy in Israel was first mooted by former prime minister Peter O’Neill during a visit to Israel in 2013. He said he had met Israeli Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, during the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York at which they discussed the possibility of visits to each other’s countries.
The idea of embassies in both countries will follow on from these initial discussions between both leaders at the UNGA. “It is not only in religion that we can relate to Israel,” PM Marape said. “Israel is a knowledge-based economy which exports agriculture using hydroponics technology.
“Israel has up to eight flights a week carrying out exports of vegetables and fruit, when it is half the size of Angoram District (in East Sepik). “We can learn much from them. “Having a bilateral relationship with them is not because of religious affinity, but more importantly, in the area of technology. “I look forward to our officials progressing what we political leaders discussed.”