Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has given the green lights to Japanese think tank Japan Development Institute (JDI) to help develop a new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Master Plan for the country and work with partners like the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank to build SEZs right across the country. He gave the blessing to CEO and Chairman of JDI, Dr. Shoichi Kobayashi, during a meeting with him in Tokyo last Tuesday (September 27, 2022). PM Marape was accompanied by International Trade and Investment Minister Hon. Richard Maru, East Sepik Governor Hon. Allan Bird and Papua New Guinea Ambassador to Japan Hon. Samuel Abal. Minister Maru and Ambassador Abal also had comprehensive discussions with Dr Kobayashi to progress the SEZ concept in PNG as a matter of urgency, starting with the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang. The JDI is an independent think tank/consulting firm, specialised in international