PacSuper has announced the launch of I-WE Supa, a voluntary retirement savings pathway championed and driven by PNG Indigenous Women Enterprises Connect (PNG IWEC) to support women across Papua New Guinea.
The initiative was developed in direct response to the financial exclusion experienced by women in the informal economy, including market vendors, caregivers and those balancing earnings with family responsibilities. It aims to provide a flexible, accessible and culturally realistic pathway to long-term financial security.
The concept was led by Linda Paru, CEO of PNG IWEC and a PacSuper board member, whose vision and advocacy for women’s economic empowerment formed the foundation of the programme. PacSuper CEO Chris Hagan worked closely with Paru to bring the pathway into operation, with PacSuper administering I-WE Supa as Papua New Guinea’s oldest superannuation fund.
The programme is powered by PRIMS, the only PNG-based superannuation administration platform, enabling voluntary and irregular contributions through mobile payment channels. This removes the need to visit a bank branch and ensures women can contribute as income allows.
Key features include:
• Voluntary contributions starting from K100 per year
• Mobile-enabled payments via Vodafone, Digicel, MiBank and BSP – seven days a week
• Real-time balance visibility via the PacSuper Member Portal
• Member discounts including Kimbe Bay Shipping and Brian Bell
• Group life insurance access for PNG IWEC members
• Housing eligibility after five years of contributions
• Ability to save in PGK or AUD
“I-WE Supa addresses a very real and urgent gap affecting women in PNG, particularly those in the informal economy who continue to be excluded from formal savings and retirement mechanisms,” Paru said. “By creating a pathway that works with women’s realities rather than against them, we move one step closer to true financial inclusion, confidence and independence.”
PacSuper CEO Hagan added: “Small, irregular contributions, made when income allows, can grow into meaningful savings over time. Our PRIMS platform allows women to save on their terms, wherever they are, empowering them to build a more secure future for retirement.”
PNG IWEC and PacSuper — partnering to enable choice, opportunity and financial inclusion for PNG women.
PacSuper is Papua New Guinea’s oldest private-sector superannuation fund, dedicated to making superannuation simpler, more efficient and more effective. Formerly the AON Master Trust, the fund rebranded as PacSuper in April 2024.
Committed to delivering better retirement outcomes, PacSuper is the only fund in PNG offering members the flexibility of multiple currency choices. With a strong focus on prudent risk management, PacSuper ensures stability and security in an evolving financial landscape.
