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...

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has commended Samarai-Murua District in Milne Bay Province for its first fish export under a joint venture with Thai company Pornupphan 2018 Co. Limited, marking a milestone in the district’s economic development and fisheries sector. The partnership involves the district’s fishing business, Kekeisi Limited, and the Tha...

Papua New Guinea has renewed its call for fairness, strengthened scientific management, and climate-resilient policies at the Twenty-Second Annual Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC22), held 1 to 5 December in Manila, Philippines. Addressing ministers, fisheries heads and delegates from across the region, Min...

Discussions have been concluded between the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru, and the Chairman of New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL), Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, for the State to take equity in Ramu Agri Industries Ltd (RAI) early next year. Minister Maru, who is also responsible for State Equity, said that the...

A cocoa cupping competition in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea, brought nine British specialty buyers and boutique chocolatiers together to taste chocolates made from 39 samples provided by Sepik cocoa producers. Judges and visitors praised the beans’ consistent processing and A-grade export quality, signalling strong international market interest. The mi...

Prime Minister James Marape on 2 November commended Parliament for passing the Coffee Industry Bill 2025 by an overwhelming majority of 72–0 votes, describing it as a historic step towards revitalising Papua New Guinea’s agricultural base and empowering millions of rural households. The Bill, introduced by Minister for Coffee William Bando, establishes...

Autonomous Region of Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama has commended the region’s cocoa farmers for their hard work and resilience, which have reinforced Bougainville’s position as Papua New Guinea’s top cocoa producer. Toroama made this statement during the Bougainville Chocolate Festival held this week in Buka. “Today, Bougainville stands pro...

Papua New Guinea's Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru, together with his small trade delegation, visited Jeonbuk State yesterday as part of his mission to meet potential Korean investors on the margins of the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM). During the visit, Minister Maru met with the Governor, Hon. Kim Kwan-young, to discuss ...

Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) coconut industry is set for a major transformation through a new partnership between the Marape-Rosso Government and Sri Lanka’s Jaindi Exports Pvt Limited, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of coconut-based food and beverage products. The partnership, announced during a two-day visit by Minister for International Trade ...

Central Province Governor Rufina Peter has signalled her intention to revive the Ilimo Farm outside Port Moresby, once a major supplier of chicken meat and eggs to the capital. Governor Peter met with Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru to discuss ways to restart operations at the farm, which is owned by the Central Province De...

The Farmers and Settlers Association (FSA) has urged the Marape-Rosso government to take bold action to reverse the decline in agricultural production and rural employment, stressing the need for fresh interventions to stimulate Papua New Guinea’s primary industries. In a statement issued to PNG Business News on 3 September, FSA President Wilson Thomps...

Coffee Minister William Bando officially opened the new state-of-the-art Homestate Coffee Factory at Tanam in Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea on 25 September 2025. The investment marks a milestone for Morobe’s coffee sector, creating opportunities for farmers who previously had to transport their produce to Goroka for processing. The opening of ...

A delegation of Korean investors has visited Papua New Guinea to explore opportunities in poultry, trade and education, a move the government hopes will spark long-term economic partnerships. Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru said the visit was an important signal of growing interest from Asia’s fourth-largest economy. “Th...

The aroma of fine cocoa will once again fill the air in Buka as the annual Bougainville Chocolate Festival returns from 28 to 30 October 2025, bringing together farmers, chocolatiers, industry leaders, and the public to celebrate the island’s world-class cocoa. This year’s festival carries the theme: “Bougainville Island of Cocoa: Through Creative Oppo...

Prime Minister James Marape has urged Papua New Guinea and its Pacific neighbours to take full control of their ocean resources, declaring that the region must no longer remain a “beggar” while foreign powers exploit its fisheries wealth. He was speaking in Port Moresby at the National Fisheries Authority’s (NFA) 25th anniversary celebrations, where he...

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has reiterated that the harvesting and trading of beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) remains strictly prohibited across the region until further notice, despite recent confusion sparked by a national advertisement. In a statement, Kenneth Dovaro, secretary of the ABG Department of Primary Industries and Marine Reso...