Local producers and farmers stand to benefit from a market that is perhaps the closest to Papua New Guinea (PNG) thanks to the creation of a business council. The creating of the Papua New Guinea (PNG)- Indonesia Business Council Incorporate now paves the way for a much stronger trade with Indonesia for PNG goods. Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru at the official launching of the Business Council at the Parliament State Function Room in Port Moresby on Wednesday 7^th May, said this is an historic moment especially with the 50^th Independence Anniversary this year. He said for so long PNG and Indonesia have had border relations but not so much about trade and investment, the business aspect of the relations. But now, this is being realized with this Business Council that will also enable PNG producers get good returns on their exports to the Indonesian market. “It’s an historic event, it’s taken this country 50 years to realize the importance of trade and investment,” he said. Minister Maru thanked the Marape/ Rosso Government for making this a reality for PNG because Indonesia is important with a huge market with 280 million people and with an economy that is sitting at 1.4 trillion. It’s a huge market for PNG exports. However, he said it is time now to get down to business. The government now must move to enable the transportation of goods along the PNG Indonesia border at Wutung in West Sepik province, enable electricity to flow from Indonesia to Wutung and the establishment of trade enabling facilities at Vanimo, the capital of West Sepik province. Prime Minister James Marape fully supports this initiative, saying that Indonesia is a major market in the Asia Pacific region and it is in the best interest of PNG to trade with Indonesia. Indonesia Ambassador to PNG, His Excellency (H.E) Andriana Supandy said the launching of the Business Council marks a milestone in relations between PNG and Indonesia. “It is an event that expresses how far we have progressed, when we set aside differences and focus on building economic ties for the benefit of both people,” said H.E Ambassador Supandy. He believes the bilateral relations will continue to grow with this new PNG Indonesia Business Council Inc. The Ambassador said this because the Business Council is an addition to the already signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) PNG has with Indonesia from the previous visits and bilateral talks between the previous Indonesian President Joko Widodo and PM Marape. “These MoUs solidify commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said the Ambassador. It was also announced that the interim President of the PNG- Indonesia Business Council is Ambassador Peter Illau, Commodore (Retired). Meanwhile, prior to the launching of the Business Council the National Executive Council (NEC) appointed Ms. Seline Leo- Lohia as the new Trade Commissioner to the Republic of Indonesia. All these latest developments in the relations between PNG and Indonesia has marked a major shift in PNG’s bilateral priorities from border and security concerns to trade, investment and economic development going forward.