• Papua New Guinea (PNG) has appointed Colonel Edison Napyo as its first defence adviser to India.
• Col Napyo is the first to be deployed as a defence advisor to India and will serve as a link between the PNG Government and Military in the country.
• India and Papua New Guinea formalised diplomatic relations in 1976, and enjoy warm and friendly relations.
• The two countries have been working closely in international forums, including the Commonwealth, Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations Organisation. This appointment will boost the present minimal military exchanges and relations.
• During the third summit of the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) PM spoke in favour of free and open Indo-Pacific region and focused on India’s commitment to assist the development goals of the member countries of FIPIC.

ABOUT FIPIC

• The FIPIC consists of Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, PNG, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.