Improving access to reliable and affordable energy will be critical to unlocking Papua New Guinea’s export potential, particularly in agriculture, British High Commissioner Paul Eastwood said during a recent visit to cacao farms in East Sepik Province. Speaking after engagements in Wewak, Eastwood highlighted the province’s role as the country’s larges...

Papua New Guinea, represented by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), has taken a strategic position in shaping regional agriculture and food security discussions at the 38th Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC38), held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, fro...

Papua New Guinea’s cocoa industry has taken a significant step forward on the global stage, with more than 3,000 participants from 19 provinces converging in Wewak, East Sepik Province, for the 2026 Greater Sepik Cocoa of Excellence and Trade Expo. The three-day event, held at Sir Michael Thomas Somare Stadium from 21 to 23 April, brought together over...

Papua New Guinea’s livestock industry must urgently adopt mechanised farming practices or face continued reliance on costly imported meat, according to Livestock Development Corporation Managing Director Terry G. Koim. Speaking in March at Taliabi, 14 Mile outside Port Moresby, during the presentation of three newly acquired state-of-the-art tractors, ...

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has joined the Government of Papua New Guinea and multilateral partners in launching the AgriConnect Project, an initiative aimed at transforming the country’s agri-food sector and strengthening rural livelihoods. The project, unveiled in Goroka on 3 March, is co-financed by IFAD alongside the ...

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), convened a coordination workshop to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders under the Global Environment Facility-7 Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (GEF-7 FOLUR) Project. The workshop brought together representat...

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is strengthening efforts to improve cocoa traceability on New Britain Island, aiming to support sustainable production and enhance market opportunities for Papua New Guinea’s cocoa farmers. The initiative comes as global consumers increasingly demand transparency in the environmental and ethical standards...

The Papua New Guinea government is set to redevelop the 20,000-hectare Urimo Cattle Ranch in the Sepik Plains in partnership with New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL), according to Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru. Maru said the ranch, once a thriving livestock hub, has been idle since the late 1970s and will be revived as p...

The World Bank has committed US$250 million (more than K1 billion) to support the implementation of Papua New Guinea’s National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) 2024–2033, with funding channelled through the PNG Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification Project (PACD). Prime Minister James Marape officially launched the PNG AgriConnect Project on...

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), through the Bougainville Agriculture Commodities Regulatory Authority (BACRA), has issued cocoa export licenses to six companies as it strengthens regulatory control over the sector and reports record production in 2025. The first three licenses were issued in October 2025 to Sankamap, Elliven and Bougainvi...

The Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru, on 3 February paid a courtesy visit to fishing companies in Lae, Morobe Province, to outline the Government’s strategic direction for the fisheries industry of Papua New Guinea (PNG). During the visit, Minister Maru met with management and staff of Frabelle PNG Limited, Majestic Se...

Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru says the proposed acquisition of State equity in Ramu Agri Industries (RAI) will be the most significant agriculture deal in Papua New Guinea’s 51-year history. “This is transformational — this investment will go beyond this generation,” Maru said. The minister made the remarks during a di...

The Ministry of International Trade and Investment (MITI) and the Livestock Development Corporation (LDC) have formalised a partnership to accelerate the development of Papua New Guinea’s cattle industry, with a focus on reducing the country’s reliance on imported beef. LDC Managing Director Terry Koim met with Minister for International Trade and Inve...

 Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru will travel to Malaysia to meet the board and management of SD Guthrie to advance discussions on the state’s proposed acquisition of shares in Ramu Agri Industries (RAI). SD Guthrie currently owns New Britain Palm Oil Ltd., which holds interests linked to RAI. The talks are part of the gover...

The Government’s initiative to establish a coconut processing plant in Madang, in partnership with Sri Lankan firm Jaindi Exports, is progressing as planned, according to the Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru. Minister Maru made the announcement following the weekend visit of Jaindi Exports’ Founder and Managing Director, Mr ...

Papua New Guinea’s agricultural production and productivity have been in steady decline for more than two decades, and continued emphasis on policies and legislation will not reverse the trend unless there is a fundamental change in how farming is carried out on the ground, according to Farmers and Settlers Association President Wilson Thompson in an inte...