Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Win Bakri Daki, announced two major policies during the Department of Commerce and Industry’s Independence celebration on 1 September. The event, part of the ministry’s month-long programme marking PNG’s 50th Independence anniversary from 1 to 30 September, provided a platform for the minister to outl...

The Treasurer of the Central Bougainville Tourism Association (CBTA), Delwin Ketsian, said the 2025 Tama Festival has the potential to become a major economic driver for Bougainville. “We see the Tama Festival not only as a cultural celebration but as an economic driver for Bougainville tourism. With more partnerships and planning, this festival will g...

Geopacific Resources Ltd. (ASX: GPR) has reported encouraging new drilling results from its 100 percent-owned Woodlark Gold Project in Papua New Guinea, including a potential new discovery adjacent to one of the site’s key deposits. The company is midway through a 30,000-metre drilling campaign designed to expand known gold resources and test multiple ...

Papua New Guinea’s government has thrown its weight behind Geopacific Resources Ltd., granting the company more time to develop its flagship Woodlark Gold Project in Milne Bay Province. Mining Minister Rainbo Paita has approved an extension to Condition 7 (ii) of Mining Lease 508, which hosts the project, pushing the deadline to complete construction a...

St Barbara Ltd. is working to steady its footing in Papua New Guinea as the gold miner juggles a long-awaited mining lease renewal and a complex tax reassessment — two issues with big implications for the future of its Simberi operations. The Australian-listed company confirmed that Papua New Guinea’s Mining Minister Rainbo Paita has received formal do...

 Frieda River Ltd. (FRL) is celebrating Papua New Guinea’s 50th year of independence, congratulating the people and government on this historic milestone. FRL reaffirmed its commitment to work with communities, stakeholders, and the government to advance the nation-building Sepik Development Project (SDP). The company is awaiting environmental permits ...

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda met with Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape to mark the country’s 50th anniversary of independence and reaffirm ADB’s role in driving connectivity and inclusive growth. He will also meet with Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey and other senior officials. During the meeting, Kanda highlighted A...

 Prime Minister James Marape has recently inaugurated the Tabubil–Telefomin Highway, the first road to ever reach Telefomin District, long regarded as one of the country’s most isolated areas. The highway, built under the Connect PNG programme and funded through the Ok Tedi Mining Ltd. (OTML) Tax Credit Scheme, was opened to scenes of celebration as th...

Fifty years after Papua New Guinea’s flag first rose on Independence Hill, thousands of citizens, leaders and international partners gathered at the same site on 16 September to commemorate the country’s Golden Jubilee. At the heart of the ceremony was Prime Minister James Marape’s call for unity, honesty and renewed service as PNG enters its next half...

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 Bank of Papua New Guinea’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has announced key policy adjustments aimed at reinforcing price stability and strengthening the role of the exchange rate as the nominal anchor for monetary policy. In its 2 September meeting, the Committee increased the Kina Facility Rate (KFR) from 4.0% to 5.0% and lowered the Cash Reserv...

A local project services company is partnering with a leading Australian manufacturer to introduce innovative dome shelter solutions across Papua New Guinea. PNG CR Services Company announced its strategic collaboration with Container Domes Australia, a move that promises to deliver durable, cost-effective infrastructure tailored to the country’s varie...

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, Solomo...

In celebration of Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary, New Porgera Ltd. (NPL) has pledged K100,000 (about USD 23,500–24,000) to the National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG). The contribution was formally handed over by NPL Country Manager Karo Maha after discussions with NMAG executives and Friends of the Museum (FoM), a non-profit group ded...

Prime Minister James Marape has reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s commitment to investor confidence and economic diversification, telling international and local business leaders that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will drive growth while upholding the rule of law and ensuring strong returns. Speaking at the Second PNG SEZ Summit in Port Moresby, Marape hig...

The Governments of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands have taken a decisive step to strengthen their economic and cultural bonds with the soft launch of the Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Business Council. Held in Port Moresby, the event brought together leaders from government and business, with both Prime Ministers hailing the initiative as a mil...

Prime Minister James Marape on 5 September farewelled United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres after a four-day visit that placed Papua New Guinea at the heart of global discussions on climate change and sustainable development. Guterres departed from Jacksons International Airport aboard a UN flight, concluding what Marape described as a “pro...

Prime Minister James Marape received a courtesy call from the United Kingdom’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West at Melanesian House in Waigani, in a meeting that underscored both countries’ determination to strengthen ties as Papua New Guinea marks 50 years of independence. The talks came ahead of the upcoming state visit of the Duke of Edi...

As Papua New Guinea marks 50 years of independence, Zenex Drilling is celebrating the national milestone with a step that blends technical innovation with local ambition: the arrival of the LRS275 Duo Sonic Drill Rig from Dutch manufacturer Eijkelkamp. For Zenex, this is more than a fleet upgrade — it’s a statement about where PNG’s homegrown drilling cap...

The Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) has raised its benchmark interest rate to 5.0 percent while easing banking reserve requirements, in a move designed to strengthen the kina, manage inflation, and keep credit flowing across the economy. At its September meeting, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) lifted the Kina Facility Rate (KFR) from 4.0 percent t...

Great Pacific Gold Corp. (GPAC) has announced a breakthrough at its Wild Dog Project in Papua New Guinea (PNG), reporting what it describes as one of the country’s best gold exploration results in recent years. The highlight came from hole WDG-08, which intercepted 8.4 metres at 49.9 grams per tonne gold equivalent, including 3.8 metres at an exception...

Nambawan Super Ltd. (NSL) has expanded its Member Discount Partnership programme with the addition of two new partners, Hongland Hardware & Homecentre and Hilton Port Moresby Hotel & Residences. The fund also renewed its partnerships with Sanctuary Hotel Resort and Spa and BNBM Mt Hagen. NSL Chief Executive Officer Paul Sayer thanked the busine...

Steamships Ltd., on behalf of John Swire & Sons (JS&S), officially handed over a new classroom building to Yanga Elementary School in Lae on 22 August 2025. The second classroom was presented to the School Board during a ceremony attended by students, parents, teachers and community members. The milestone marks continued investment in rural edu...