Minister Maru Congratulates Richard Yakam on his Re-appointment as the Chief Trade Officer
Port Moresby, March 23, 2026- The Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru, congratulated Mr. Richard Yakam on his re-appointment as Chief Trade Officer for the National Trade Office for another term of four years. He commended him on his contribution and leadership in delivering key reforms that had strengthened PNG’s trade policy and institutional framework which was lacking since Independence.
Minister Maru thanked the NEC for its decision on the re-appointment, saying continuity and stability was important as PNG focused on securing new and improved market access for PNG exports through Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), starting with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“Effective participation in international trade is critical to PNG’s economic growth and long-term resilience and requires a stable and resourced National Trade Office to deliver this functional mandate. The key target of the National Trade Office, under the leadership of Mr. Yakam, will be to negotiate a CEPA between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the UAE. Our progress has been hampered by the war but we focus to have the negotiations completed and the Agreement signed before the end of this year,” said Minister Maru.
“We will use the CEPA between PNG and the UAE as a template in negotiating similar Agreements with other countries including Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and others,” he added.
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Approved for Release
Hon. Richard Maru, BTech, MBA, OBE, MP
Minister for International Trade & Investment
