Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, MP, has called for stronger civil society engagement to ensure the Pacific’s regional architecture delivers stability, good governance and sustainable economic growth.
In his intervention statement at the 54th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Dialogue with Civil Society on 9 September in Honiara, Solomon Islands — delivered by Fisheries Minister Jelta Wong — Prime Minister Marape emphasised that the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent provides a roadmap for prosperity but depends on effective institutions and inclusive partnerships to succeed.
He stressed that the current review of the Pacific’s regional systems is not just an “institutional exercise” but a necessary step to make them resilient, agile and responsive to the region’s economic and social needs.
“A strategy is only as effective as the institutions and mechanisms we have to implement it,” Marape stated.
For the business community, he highlighted that a stronger regional framework would underpin investor confidence by supporting stability, strengthening governance and promoting sustainable resource management. These conditions, he noted, are important for creating an enabling environment for growth and private-sector participation.
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Marape placed civil society at the centre of this effort, describing organisations as “the eyes and ears on the ground” that connect high-level policies with community realities. Their role in identifying gaps in governance, resource use and service delivery, he said, is critical to building accountability and efficiency.
He urged that civil society must go beyond feedback to become co-creators of the Pacific’s future. Deeper engagement in policy design and project implementation, Marape explained, would ensure development efforts remain culturally sensitive, community-driven and reflective of Pacific aspirations.
By working hand in hand with governments, Marape argued, civil society can help transform the Pacific’s regional architecture into a “strong and effective engine for a secure, prosperous and thriving Blue Pacific” — a foundation that businesses, investors and communities alike can rely on.
