Prime Minister James Marape has appealed to the United States and its business community to deepen trade and investment ties with the Pacific, saying the region must be seen as a partner of prosperity rather than a passive recipient of aid.
Speaking at the US–Pacific Islands Business Forum on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Marape told business leaders and policymakers that Pacific nations were repositioning themselves as “big ocean nations” with untapped potential.
“We may be called small island states, but we are in fact big ocean nations,” Marape declared. “Our seas, our airspace, our forests, and our human capital are immense. The Pacific holds more than $3 billion worth of tuna and fisheries resources every year, yet our citizens remain among the lowest per capita earners in the world. This must change.”
The forum, hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) in partnership with Newmont, Viasat, and Atlas Air, drew attention to the Pacific’s strategic role in global trade and environmental stewardship.
Shared values
Marape took a moment to acknowledge the recognition of Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary and reflected on the common principles binding the Pacific and the United States.
“We are all democratic nations, we are all free market economies, and we are largely Christian nations,” he said. “These are the same values that the United States embodies and leads with globally. We congratulate the U.S. on its upcoming 250th anniversary of independence—a true testimony to the miracle of democracy and free market economy.”
His words drew nods from participants, many of whom saw parallels between America’s historical journey and the Pacific’s aspirations for economic transformation.
Moving beyond aid
Marape was firm in his message: the Pacific no longer seeks to be defined by aid dependency. Instead, he called for a shift toward trade, private sector investment, and fair partnerships.
“Aid and grant relationships are subservient; trade relationships elevate human dignity,” he stressed. “We welcome U.S. companies to invest in fisheries, green energy, tourism, downstream processing, and infrastructure. The Pacific must become a hub of prosperity, not dependency.”
US firms already in PNG
The Prime Minister also recognised American firms already shaping Papua New Guinea’s economy, including ExxonMobil, Newmont, Hilton, and Marriott.
He highlighted ExxonMobil’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) project as proof of the region’s ability to host long-term, capital-intensive ventures. The project, he noted, remains the largest single foreign direct investment in PNG since independence.
A vision for the Pacific
Marape closed his remarks with a reminder that the Pacific is not just a collection of scattered islands but a critical partner in global wellbeing.
“Our Blue Continent is more than a collection of islands—it is the world’s largest carbon sink, with oceans and forests that help sustain the planet,” he said. “Together with U.S. companies and global partners, we can build a Pacific that is prosperous, dignified, and respected.”
For Marape, the message was clear: the Pacific should be viewed not as a frontier of aid, but as a frontier of opportunity—where shared values and mutual respect can anchor lasting prosperity.
