Prime Minister James Marape

PM welcomes new Investment Promotion Law

The bill encourages the growth of Papua New Guinea-owned small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) while at the same time attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).

PM Marape also welcomed passage of the accompanying Associations Incorporation Bill 2022, which will ensure better governance and accountability, especially among rural people who form associations to benefit their communities.

Both bills were passed 91-0 by Parliament after introduction by Commerce and Industry Minister Henry Amuli.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese keen to strengthen ties in first visit to Papua New Guinea

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.

PM clarifies Aus PM’s address to Parliament

PM Albanese will be welcomed at the APEC Terminal to a guard of honour and a 19-gun salute.

PM Marape says, at half past 10 tomorrow, Albanese will pay a courtesy call to the Governor General at the Government House.

At 11 o’clock, the Australian PM will then address Parliament at the invitation of the National Government.

Marape said, “At 11 o’clock he is scheduled to come and address our national parliament at our invitation. At our government’s invitation and with the Speaker’s concurrence and clearance by the Clerk of Parliament.

Tomuriesa raise concern on students’ selection

Tomuriesa raised this issue on the floor of Parliament today and further called for the overhauling of the selection process with the Higher Education on Grade 12 school leavers.

He said parents have invested more on their children and expected them to make it to higher institutions but that’s not the case after scoring good marks in their Grade 12 examinations.

Kutubu crude oil not supplied regularly: Puma

PM Marape, in a statement issued last night, said he has directed Minister for Petroleum Kerenga Kua to liaise with Santos and ExxonMobil on how to increase this supply - either to NapaNapa or have a new refinery set up.

“Downstream processing of our natural resources, including oil and gas, is a major policy of this Government and our coalition partners,” the PM said.

“Therefore, we cannot be energy-insecure, as we are producing oil that goes to refineries in Singapore and is then sent back to us.

“We can reverse this arrangement if the cost structure is right.”

Inadequate supply of FX affects fuel supply

Prime Minister James Marape said this resulted in Puma stopping its supply of aviation gasoline to Air Niugini, because it could not get the required FX to bring in fuel, resulting in all flights being cancelled last Thursday.

Marape said this on Sunday (January 8, 2022) after meeting with top executives of Puma Energy in Singapore.

He was accompanied by Petroleum and Energy Minister, Kerenga Kua and State-Solicitor Daniel Ropalgarea.

PM off to meet Puma Energy Executives

The PM is accompanied by Minister for Petroleum and Energy Kerenga Kua and the State Solicitor to discuss this issue which resulted in all Air Niugini flights being cancelled on Thursday last week.

Puma Energy is a Swiss multinational mid- and downstream oil company, majority-owned by Singapore-based Swiss company Trafigura. Its operations span around 40 countries, across five continents and encompass the supply, storage, refining, distribution, and retail of a range of petroleum products.

PM urges Puma, BPNG to solve issue

Prime Minister Marape in a statement said the case of Puma being unable to maintain the supply of fuel products to its customers was because of ongoing issues with Bank of PNG (Central Bank), for which the country was being held to ransom.

PM Marape has asked BPNG, immediately after an urgent National Security Advisory Committee today (January 5, 2023), to find a short-term solution by lifting restrictions on Puma so that their supply of fuel products continue without compromising Central Bank’s fiduciary requirements.

BPNG told to deal with Puma reasonably

“Without compromising Central Bank’s role in ensuring that transactions are legitimate and proper, I appeal to it to exercise wisdom and not just be a policeman, but use monetary policy and the Bank as an incubator of economic activity in PNG.

“The Government is also looking at the arrangement with Puma, whereby they have a monopoly in PNG, and does not want the country to be placed in a dangerous security situation.

“I ask the Central Bank to clear the order for the supply of fuel products by Puma to continue, in the meantime, as we find permanent solutions.”

Australian PM to visit PNG next week

He will be in the country for a two-day official visit from January 12-13th to attend the Annual Leaders' Dialogue with counterpart Prime Minister Marape in Port Moresby.

Following the Dialogue, the Prime Ministers will travel together to Wewak to visit the resting place of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

“We look forward to the visit of Australian Prime Minister Albanese to PNG,” Prime Minister Marape said.