More than 300 participants from Papua New Guinea and Europe gathered in Port Moresby on 2-3 June for the 5th European Union–Papua New Guinea Business Forum, where the EU and the Government of Papua New Guinea reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening economic cooperation, promoting sustainable investment, and advancing private sector-led growth. The forum, held under the theme “The EU Global Gateway for Sustainable Investment, Connectivity and Growth in Papua New Guinea,” brought together government officials, private sector representatives, financial institutions, development partners, and investors. A major highlight was the signing of a new Global Gateway investment, the Water Wise Communities Project Loan and Grant Agreement, under which the European Investment Bank is providing a concessional loan of 25 million EUR (approx. PGK 126 million) combined with an EU grant of 16.4 million EUR (approx. PGK 83 million) to bring steady supplies of potable water to an extra 400,000 people in PNG while strengthening climate resilience and urban sustainability.
Opening the forum, Prime Minister Hon. James Marape welcomed the growing engagement between Papua New Guinea and the European Union and encouraged European businesses and investors to partner with PNG in unlocking the country's vast economic potential. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and called on EU and PNG businesses to “grow together” through partnerships that create jobs, stimulate investment, transfer technology, and improve livelihoods. He emphasized that Papua New Guinea remains open for business and is committed to providing a stable and predictable environment for responsible investment and private sector development.
Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Hon. Sir Ano Pala, described the European Union as a trusted and strategic development partner that has supported PNG's development journey over many years. At the closing ceremony, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, highlighted that the forum not only advances concrete business ties but reinforces partnership in general, noting that the EU and PNG have evolved from development partners to strategic partners based on respect and shared values.
EU Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Erika Hasznos, noted: “This Forum is about our shared vision of an open, sustainable and prosperous Indo-Pacific; about translating political commitments into bankable projects; and about building long term, high-quality partnerships between European and PNG businesses.” Speaking at the forum, Mr. Peteris Ustubs, Director for Asia, Central Asia and Pacific at the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships, reaffirmed the strategic importance of Papua New Guinea within the European Union's Indo-Pacific engagement, citing PNG's strategic location, abundant natural resources, and commitment to sustainable development.
The forum highlighted the European Union's Global Gateway Initiative as a key mechanism for supporting sustainable investment in infrastructure, connectivity, renewable energy, water security, digital transformation, and private sector development. Participants explored business opportunities in renewable energy and safe water, digital transformation and connectivity, inclusive and sustainable extractive industries, and development of agriculture value chains. The programme featured practical business sessions on exporting to the EU market and doing business in PNG, masterclasses on EU deforestation regulation, and site visits. Representatives from 77 companies, including 23 European companies, attended.
The forum concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation under the EU Global Gateway Strategy and to work together to promote sustainable investment, responsible resource development, stronger trade and investment linkages, and improved economic opportunities for the people of Papua New Guinea. Since its first edition in 2011, the EU–PNG Business Forum has served as a platform to strengthen economic ties and advance sustainable investment and trade relations between the EU and Papua New Guinea. The forum was organised by the European Union in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), in cooperation with the Government of Papua New Guinea, the National Trade Office (NTO), the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA), and the PNG-Europe Business Council.
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