PAPUA New Guinea celebrates its National Day today. Known as the world's second largest island (after Borneo), the country is located north of Australia and east of Indonesia. Port Moresby is the country's capital and largest city.
In 1884, the southern half of eastern New Guinea was claimed by Britain. In 1905, it was transferred to Australia. In 1884, the northern half was claimed by Germany which was granted a League of Nations mandate and then a United Nations trusteeship over the area.
The two territories were administered jointly after 1949, and self-government was given on December 1, 1973. The combined territory became independent on September 16, 1975.
Papua New Guinea is endowed with rich natural resources, including minerals (such as gold, natural gas, copper, and oil), timber, and fish. Mineral deposits account for most of the country's export earnings. Because of the massive growth of the mining sector, the country became the 7th fastest growing economy in the world in 2011.
We greet the government and people of Papua New Guinea led by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and Their Excellencies, Governor-General Michael Ogio, Prime Minister Peter Paire O'Neill, and Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion, and its Embassy in the Philippines headed by H.E., Christian Anthony Vihruri, on the occasion of its 37th National Day. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!
