Press Releases
Grant Assistance to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea: Signing and Exchange of Notes on "the Project for Control and Eradication of Poliomyelitis"
On February 23 (same day local time), in Port Moresby, the capital of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, H.E. Mr. MOCHIZUKI Hisanobu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and Mr. Josaia TIKO, Acting Head of the World Health Organization Office in Papua New Guinea, signed and exchanged notes on "the Project for Control and Eradication of Poliomyelitis" (project up to 663 million yen).
- On May 15, 2025, the National Department of Health of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea declared a polio outbreak. Although the Government had implemented the first and second rounds of intensive immunization in 2025, sufficient vaccination coverage could not be achieved due to factors including inadequate vaccine supply to mountainous areas and remote islands. This project aims to implement a third round of mass vaccination in four provinces in the northern region and ten provinces in the southern region, and therebyrapidly containing the outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) and preventing further spread of the infection . The project contributes to improving the standard of living for the people of Papua New Guinea.
- In the “Leaders Declaration” and the “Joint Action Plan” issued at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) held in July 2024, Japan stated that it would continue to advance cooperation in the fields of education and health, identifying “People-Centered Development” as one of the key areas of cooperation. This project embodies the Plan.
(Reference1) Basic Data on the Independent State of Papua New Guinea
The Independent State of Papua New Guinea covers an area of 462 thousand square kilometers, a population of 10.576 million (World Bank, 2024), and a gross national income (GNI) per capita of US$2,940 (World Bank, 2024).
(Reference2) 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10)
From July 16 to July 18, 2024, the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) was co-chaired by former Prime Minister KISHIDA and Prime Minister BROWN of the Cook Islands, the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The Meeting was attended by the leaders and representatives of 19 countries, regions and regional organizations including Japan, 14 Pacific Island countries, two French overseas collectivities, Australia, and New Zealand, and the chair of the PIF. Prime Minister James Marape represented the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.
The Government of Japan announced Japan’s commitment to continue its robust development assistance and support for more than 6,500 people-to-people exchanges as well as human resource development over the next three years based on the seven priority areas of cooperation which are in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent or “2050 Strategy" of the PIF: (1) Political Leadership and Regionalism, (2) People-centered Development, (3) Peace and Security, (4) Resources and Economic Development, (5) Climate Change and Disasters, (6) Ocean and Environment, (7) Technology and Connectivity.