The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (POMCCI) hosted a special Business Breakfast on 29 October, welcoming a high-level trade delegation from New Caledonia. The event, held at the Royal Papua Yacht Club, brought together government leaders, diplomats, and business representatives from both nations to explore new opportunities in mining, industry, training, and sustainable development.
The breakfast was attended by the President of the Government of New Caledonia, Alcide Ponga; the French Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Pierre Fournier; the European Union Ambassador to PNG, Erika Hasznos; and other members of the diplomatic corps, including the Korean Ambassador, Choi Jong-ho, and the Fijian High Commissioner, Jackson Bernardo Evans.
Representing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New Caledonia, Christophe Laurent thanked POMCCI for the warm reception and introduced the delegation of 14 New Caledonian companies eager to connect with PNG counterparts.
“People here are very capable in their own specialties,” Laurent said. “We would like to share our talents, find ways to work together, and be part of the Papua New Guinea landscape.”
Laurent emphasized that New Caledonia aims to be more open to the Melanesian world through stronger economic engagement.
“A lot of relationships can be made, and this morning is a great occasion to do so. Nouvelle-Calédonie wants to be more present in the region, and on the economic side, we will play our role,” he added.
French Ambassador Pierre Fournier expressed his appreciation to POMCCI for facilitating the exchange, noting that the mission marked a milestone in strengthening Franco-Pacific partnerships.
“This trip to PNG has been a long time in the making, and it already seems successful,” he remarked.
Fournier shared that the New Caledonian delegation had held a series of productive meetings with the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mines, Energy, Education, and PNG Ports. “It was important to listen to what our interlocutors had to say, but also to be heard—to remind people that Nouvelle-Calédonie is not just about political challenges but also about its remarkable industrial and economic capacity,” he said.
He underscored that New Caledonia’s diversity and expertise give it the strength to play a greater role in the Pacific. “Enhancing this role is an essential mission for us as diplomatic actors,” he stated. “This country’s potential is unlimited—it requires patience, hard work, and above all, the quality of personal relationships built on trust and genuine friendship.”
Delivering the keynote address, President Alcide Ponga thanked POMCCI and the people of PNG for their warm hospitality. “Your hospitality made this event more relaxing, with plenty of opportunity for discussion,” he said. Ponga noted that the mission was supported by Team France Export and the CCI of New Caledonia, providing a platform for companies to explore regional markets and collaboration.
He highlighted New Caledonia’s commitment to strengthening ties with Papua New Guinea under the Joint Cooperation Plan signed in 2018, which aims to enhance economic and diplomatic cooperation.
“Our mission reaffirms our commitment to this partnership and to identifying new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation,” Ponga said.
The New Caledonian delegation comprised companies from sectors including mining, metallurgy, energy, water treatment, transport, industry, and training—each recognised for technical expertise and innovation. “New Caledonia treasures its relations with the global Pacific, of which Papua New Guinea is a key member and brother,” the President remarked, adding that New Caledonia hopes to learn from PNG’s economic success and share its own experiences in return.
Trade Delegation Showcases Pacific Expertise
The New Caledonia Trade Delegation included representatives from a range of industries — from engineering and construction to education, energy, and animal nutrition. Among the participating companies were: AMC Sud (Ateliers Mécanique & Chaudronnerie), Beca, Beico, CIPAC Formation, Connectic System, Easy Skill, EPC Papua New Guinea, GEMCO, i2F Project Finance, Optifluids, SICA, Trametal, and Yaknoo S.A.Y.
Each company brought technical expertise and innovative solutions aligned with PNG’s infrastructure, industrial, and training needs.
Following the speeches at the breakfast meeting, the visiting companies introduced their work. AMC, represented by Vincent Royard, shared insights into the company’s industrial metalworking expertise. AMC operates a 2,000-square-metre workshop in New Caledonia, specialising in mechanical engineering, structural design, and fabrication of industrial equipment such as tanks, pressure vessels, and mechanical parts. Royard also announced the company’s recent expansion into aluminium shipbuilding, emphasising readiness to collaborate with PNG clients in both industrial and marine engineering projects.
Another company, BECA, represented by Frédéric Poujade, outlined its regional engineering capabilities. Poujade described BECA as a multidisciplinary consultancy with over 4,000 professionals across the Asia-Pacific region.
“In industries like mining, energy, power, and manufacturing, our focus is simple—keep people and plants safe, lift uptime, and drive down unit costs,” he said. “Our approach is practical: start fast, prove value quickly, and use that success to make long-term impact.”
Building Bridges in the Blue Pacific
The visit of the New Caledonian delegation to PNG is part of a broader initiative to enhance regional integration within the Blue Pacific, leveraging economic partnerships, shared environmental goals, and cultural ties.
Through business missions like this, France and New Caledonia seek to expand cooperation with PNG, the Pacific’s largest economy, by encouraging collaboration in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, training, and technology.
The French Embassy in PNG described the engagement as a milestone toward building sustainable partnerships that reflect France’s long-standing commitment to the Pacific region, both politically and economically.
The high-level business and economic delegation from New Caledonia—supported by the French Embassy in Papua New Guinea, the French Development Agency (AFD), and Expertise France—brought together senior representatives from New Caledonia’s government, business chambers, and leading private sector companies for a series of engagements with Papua New Guinean counterparts.
According to His Excellency Pierre Fournier, the French Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the visit demonstrates the renewed momentum in relations between France and Papua New Guinea following the official visit of President Emmanuel Macron in July 2023.
“This mission is a strong signal of our shared commitment to strengthening ties between France, New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea,” Ambassador Fournier said. “It also contributes to integrating New Caledonia into its regional environment by promoting its know-how and the expertise of its companies.”
France’s Growing Engagement in PNG
The French Embassy in PNG operates as a Poste de Présence Diplomatique (PPD) — a small yet active diplomatic mission made up of three expatriate staff and two local employees. While its focus remains primarily political, the embassy works closely with France’s Regional Economic Service based at the French Embassy in Canberra, which provides economic and trade support.
The embassy also collaborates with France’s Consulate General in Sydney for consular services and with a newly appointed non-resident defence attaché based in Canberra, tasked specifically with military and security cooperation with PNG.
Ambassador Fournier noted that the recent establishment of offices for both AFD (Agence Française de Développement) and Expertise France in Port Moresby—the first and only in the Pacific Islands—underscores the importance France places on its partnership with PNG. These offices, along with the placement of three technical experts in key government departments such as the Department of National Planning and Monitoring, the National Capital District Commission, and the Prime Minister’s Office, highlight France’s long-term commitment to PNG’s development priorities.
Regional Economic Cooperation and Business Links
The Regional Economic Department, led by Kambiz Mohkam (Head) and Louis Vedel (Deputy Head), operates under the French Treasury and plays a vital role in facilitating trade and investment between France, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
This department contributes to developing bilateral economic ties, analysing public policies, conducting market studies, and promoting France as a destination for business partnerships. It also helps French and New Caledonian enterprises identify new opportunities in the Pacific, including in PNG.
The breakfast event included networking opportunities between PNG businesses, corporate representatives, and the visiting companies, fostering new conversations around regional trade and development partnerships.
The POMCCI Business Breakfast once again demonstrated Port Moresby’s growing role as a hub for Pacific economic dialogue, bringing together regional partners committed to collaboration and shared prosperity.
