Prime Minister James Marape has announced that Papua New Guinea’s bid to once again host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit has been accepted by APEC members for the year 2033.
Prime Minister Marape made the revelation while commending his envoy to APEC 2025, Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, for leading the PNG delegation and expressing the nation’s interest to host the summit.
“It was a good meeting for us. Our presence was evident. I want to announce to our country that the APEC secretariat has accepted our bid to host APEC 2033,” he said.
The announcement was made during a press conference before the Prime Minister’s departure for Sydney en route to Brazil, where he will attend the United Nations Climate Summit, COP30.
APEC meetings are hosted by different member economies each year on a voluntary, rotational basis. The selection process is determined through consensus among the 21 member economies, rather than a competitive public bidding system. The process typically involves internal coordination, voluntary offers and long-term planning.
The consensus for PNG to host in 2033 will mark the second time the country hosts the APEC Leaders’ Summit, following its successful hosting in 2018.
Prime Minister Marape also revealed that Papua New Guinea is poised to host the United Nations Oceans Conference – widely known as the Global Oceans Conference – in 2030. This follows the country’s preparation to deposit its ratification at the United Nations next year to reserve up to 30 per cent of its ocean spaces for conservation.
“We are hosting a oceans economic ministers’ forum next year. This is a precursor to 2030, where there is a high possibility that PNG will host the global oceans conference, similar to the one we attended in Nice, France last year. We have put our hands up for it and France and many of our partner nations have offered us support,” said Marape.
“Hosting the global oceans conference is confirmation by the global community of the role PNG plays in the world in biodiversity, ocean resource management, and forest management," he added.
The Prime Minister also announced that Papua New Guinea will support Australia in its bid to host COP31 next year, reaffirming PNG’s commitment as part of the Pacific family of nations and as Australia’s closest bilateral partner.
“The 2030 Global Oceans Conference, the APEC 2033, and our NRL team entering competition in 2028 are part of the new things shaping up PNG in the life after 50th anniversary. PNG is firmly placed in the global family of nations. Our nation is entrenched as a major forest, ocean and biodiversity country, and fighting for an equal place as an economy ready to do business with all economies. The world now clearly knows who we are,” he said.
