The European Union is advancing its Global Gateway strategy in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela arriving in Port Moresby on 11 September to strengthen investment ties and development cooperation. His two-day visit concluded on 12 September with the signing of a PGK 125 million budget support programme aimed at enhancing governance, climate resilience, and infrastructure development.
Commissioner Síkela’s visit underscores the EU’s longstanding partnership with PNG, a relationship that stretches back to 1977.
The Global Gateway initiative is the EU’s flagship investment framework, designed to bridge global infrastructure and development gaps. By mobilising up to €300 billion in public and private investments between 2021 and 2027, the strategy seeks to boost clean energy, transport connectivity, digital infrastructure, and social sectors such as health, education, and research.
Commissioner Síkela’s visit to PNG follows his participation in the first EU-Pacific Business Forum in Fiji, where he announced nearly €300 million in new investments across the Pacific region, including PNG. In Port Moresby, he held high-level discussions with the PNG Government to accelerate investment opportunities under Global Gateway, particularly in transport and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Discussions built on ongoing cooperation in the water sector and the Rabaul port rehabilitation, two projects supported by the European Investment Bank during a recent mission to PNG. Their implementation is expected to allow PNG to leverage European expertise and finance to modernise infrastructure, enhance connectivity, and drive sustainable economic growth.
As part of the visit, Commissioner Síkela and PNG’s Minister for National Planning, Ano Pala, signed a €25.6 million (PGK 125 million) budget support programme focused on state-building and resilience. The funding aims to strengthen governance systems, promote sustainable forest management, address climate challenges, expand access to clean water, and improve justice delivery.
In addition, the Commissioner announced the disbursement of a final €1 million tranche under an existing governance programme, further underlining the EU’s role as a long-term development partner. Since 1977, EU-PNG cooperation has supported forestry, climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, and water and sanitation services, alongside governance and trade initiatives.
Commissioner Síkela said: “I am honoured to visit Papua New Guinea to celebrate the country’s 50th independence anniversary. The cooperation between PNG and the European Union has been an important part of these past decades. I believe that the newly signed budget support to enhance forest conservation, climate change responses, water, and governance in PNG will allow us to make our partnership even stronger under the EU’s Global Gateway investment strategy.
“Together we can create tangible benefits for local communities by boosting sustainable economic growth and strengthening their capacity to tackle climate challenges,” he added.
Beyond development aid, the EU-PNG partnership carries significant trade implications. PNG was one of the first signatories of the interim Economic Partnership Agreement, giving its exporters duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market for key products such as fisheries and agricultural goods.
Strengthening infrastructure and governance under Global Gateway is expected to further reinforce PNG’s competitiveness in global trade.
Concluding his two-day visit, Commissioner Síkela described Papua New Guinea as a “strategic partner for the European Union”, reaffirming that the partnership is anchored in trade, development, climate resilience, sustainable growth, and good governance. His bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, Foreign Minister Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, National Planning Minister Hon. Ano Pala, Treasurer Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey, and Justice Minister & Attorney-General Hon. Pila Niningi highlighted the EU’s enduring role in advancing shared priorities under the Global Gateway strategy.
The EU remains a critical development and investment ally for PNG, offering a combination of financial support, market access, and technical expertise. With new Global Gateway-linked projects on the horizon, PNG is positioned to secure stronger infrastructure foundations and improved access to European markets, aligning with its long-term growth and diversification goals.
