papua new guinea

The district produced over 9, 000 metric tons of cocoa last year, 2022, which amounts to 20 percent of PNG’s cocoa produced in one district.

Member for Yangoru-Saussia and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru thanked his people for their efforts and hard work in becoming the biggest cocoa producing district in the country. Minister Maru assured his people that Yangoru-Saussia district will invest more in cocoa this year.

Prime Minister James Marape said this on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, when commenting on the recent visit by Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

“We do not want the moment of the visit of PM Albanese to be wasted,” Marape said.

“There have been many bilateral meetings and visits, but this one was historic, in that he also addressed our Parliament.

“Australia is committed to addressing all the outstanding issues with us. I have already written a letter to PM Albanese thanking his for the visit and the issues that he raised.

Since its inception in 1983, the Agreement has undergone three reviews, the first review was undertaken in 1993, the second one in 2003 and the third was undertaken in 2013, after which Indonesia has formally ratified the 2013 revised Agreement whilst PNG is yet to do so.

This agreement is now up for review but before that takes place, PNG must ratify the agreement and thereafter have it subjected for review by both the two contracting parties.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko, in a press conference in Port Moresby, highlighted significant areas of concern to be added into the treaty agreement including cybercrime, climate change, money laundering, biosecurity, internal security and gender-based violence.

“The definition of the security treaty has been expanded which I think is a very good thing, it’s not just about Defence but all the other important areas as well.

As it was Australia, Labor Party and Whitlam in 1973 to 1975 that allowed the PNG, PANGU Pati and Somare drive into political independence, so must it be Australia, Labor Party and Albanese of 2023 to assist PNG, PANGU Pati and the generation of Leaders to drive PNG into the economic independence.

PM Marape told Parliament that a nation claiming political independence without economic strength is a weak nation. 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed when addressing Parliament today; stating that this is more than they have invested in India, Indonesia or Malaysia.

He said Australia will support PNG in the downstream processing policy driven by the Marape-Rosso Government.

PM Albanese said Australia understood that PNG is eager to expand its exports of more processed goods and varied agricultural products and these are areas where Australian business community can play a key role.

Mr Albanese will use his historic speech to PNG’s parliament on Thursday to restate his support for a Pacific Islander team to compete in the NRL, saying Australia and PNG have a “shared passion for rugby league”.

“Today I affirm my view that I want to see a PNG-based, Pacific Islander team compete in the National Rugby League competition,” he is expected to say.

“Sport is such a genuine and powerful way of building strong and lasting ties between our peoples, at a code and club and community and family level.

Key points:

• Australia and PNG hope to strengthen ties during Anthony Albanese's two-day visit 
• Security has become a key focus for the region after China and Solomon Islands signed a defence pact 
• Australian aid remains contentious among some Papua New Guineans concerned about debt levels and corruption

Australian flags have been hoisted across Port Moresby, and Mr Albanese's face has been put up on billboards, alongside PNG Prime Minister James Marape's.

Key points:

• Tracking births and deaths at the village-level in ward record books is seen as cheap and effective  
• Next year, Papua New Guinea is likely to hold its first national census in more than a decade  
• There are reports PNG's population is as high as 17 million, double the government's estimate

PNG was due for a census in 2021, but it was delayed by the pandemic and is unlikely to happen before 2024. In the meantime, locals have been devising a grassroots solution.  

Naguri had to talk to the people about the project because it had stopped and landowners were questioning why authorities have not explained this to them.

On behalf of the donor, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the contractor, the Bogia MP said the contractor’s term of work had come to an end. R&Sons had secured the Phase 1 contract among many who bid for it.

MP Naguri said another company will commence work for Phase 2 early next year when donors are ready.

Naguri also told the people that they must look after the project and not disturb the flow of work.