The 2025 Isuzu Men’s T20 Smash, sponsored by Boroko Motors, launched into full swing on Saturday 10th May 2025 at Amini Park in Port Moresby, delivering two action-packed matches that thrilled local cricket fans. Cricket PNG stated that the highly anticipated tournament features four franchises: Mudmen Cassowaries Mariners Black Bass “The tournament provides an exciting platform for elite and emerging cricketers to showcase their skills with the goal of catching the eyes of selectors for potential inclusion in the PNG national team, the Barramundis,” Cricket PNG said. Match 1: Mariners vs Cassowaries The tournament opener saw Cassowaries Men edge out Mariners Men in a nail-biting finish, winning by 2 wickets. Cassowaries won the toss and elected to bowl, holding Mariners to 101/7 in their 20 overs. In reply, Cassowaries reached 102/8, clinching the win with just two wickets to spare. Peter Molean Karoho starred with a match-winning all-round performance and was deservingly named Player of the Match. Match 2: Mudmen vs Black Bass In the afternoon showdown, Black Bass Men seized the win with a 7-wicket victory over Mudmen. Batting first, the Mudmen posted 114/8, but Black Bass chased it down in 17.3 overs, powered by a captain’s knock from Sese Bau, who smashed an unbeaten 70 to lead his side home. The Barramundis top-order batter was declared Player of the Match for his innings. Spotlight on Regional Talent, this year’s Isuzu Men’s T20 Smash proudly features 16 players from outside the National Capital District (NCD), reflecting Cricket PNG’s commitment to bringing out regional talent. This includes: 5 from Tubusereia (Central Province), 3 from Lae (Morobe Province) - 2 from Keapara (Central Province), - 2 from Hula (Central Province), 1 from Alukuni (Central Province), 1 from Makerupu (Central Province), 1 from Alotau (Milne Bay Province) 1 from Kimbe (West New Britain Province) These selections reinforce the tournament’s nationwide reach and depth of cricketing potential. Cricket fans can catch match highlights, full scorecards, and live updates by following the Cricket PNG Facebook page and by visiting the website www.cricketpng.org.pg. Links to live streaming will be updated each day at https://www.facebook.com/cricketpng. "Don’t miss the cricket action! Head down to Amini Park to cheer on your favourite teams and players as they battle it out for pride, performance and a shot at Barramundis selection,” Cricket PNG said.

The Internal Revenue Commission’s (IRC) Regional Operations Division (ROD) successfully conducted its Quarter One (Q1) Planning and Performance Review Workshop from Tuesday, 6 May to Thursday, 8 May 2025, at Tuhava Resort. The workshop was officially opened by the Acting Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations, Mr. Valentine Tavaperry, who welcomed the Regional Directors. In his opening remarks, Mr. Tavaperry set the context for the workshop by outlining its objectives, theme, and expected outcomes. He emphasized the importance of aligning divisional priorities with the IRC’s 2025 Annual Work Plan (AWP) cascaded down to the Regional Operation Division's Annual Operational Work Plan. "Day 1 commenced with the Governance and Reform Division providing an overview of the expectations under the AWP specific to ROD. They also presented high-level updates on the newly introduced Planning, Reporting, and Performance Management Policy, and guided the ROD Management Team through the process of updating key activities under the plan. The Governance and Reform Division will consolidate feedback from the workshop to help ROD improve its planning and reporting processes for Q2 and beyond. The Day 1 sessions concluded with Q1 performance presentations from the Southern Region and the NCTC. "Day 2 continued with performance updates from the Northern and Highlands Regions. The Tax Intelligence Division shared an overview of compliance performance across regions, followed by the Debt Strategy and Policy Division’s report on Q1 debt performance outcomes by regions and provinces. Day 3 featured operational updates from various IRC support divisions. The ICT Division reported on ongoing system restoration efforts in the regions and provinces, while the Finance and Administration Division (FAD) provided a funding status update. The Human Resource Division (HRD) and the Facilities and Operations Management Division (FOMD) shared progress reports on recruitment, training, and provincial asset and facility management," The IRC stated. IRC added that The Tax Audits SME Team presented insights on GST Section 65A compliance and collections, benchmarking Q1 2025 against Q1 2024. "The final regional presentation was delivered by the Islands Region. The day concluded with the Regional Directors discussing “Way Forward” action items for each region," IRC said. The workshop concluded with the ROD Secretariat compiling a comprehensive action item list and a summary of priority matters for Q2 and beyond and will be shared with Commission and relevant internal stakeholders to support the timely implementation of key deliverables for the Regional Operations. On Friday, 9th May 2025, participants joined the Port Moresby IRC Headquarters team at APEC Haus for a General Tax Information Session targeted at NCD taxpayers. Closing remarks were delivered by Acting Commissioner Services, Mr. Elijah Titus, who reiterated the workshop’s overarching aim: to assess regional performance against the AWP and broader organizational priorities.

A cohort of emerging and established women leaders from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands have commenced the PNG Institute of Directors (PNGID) SOE Director Development Program. For the first time, the program features a dedicated module on state-owned enterprise (SOE) governance, developed with the support of the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI). The inclusion of the Solomon Islands cohort—in PNG as part of a week-long pilot initiative to expand the pipeline of qualified women for future SOE board roles—underscores the regional significance of this new training. Their participation was supported by the Government of Australia through the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership for Governance. “This is an important moment for PNGID. We are excited to launch our first ever SOE governance module with this incredible cohort of women from both Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. It will set a new standard for how we prepare directors to lead with confidence, integrity, and impact in state-owned," said Megan Taureka-Andrew, CEO of PNGID. The launch of the SOE module was marked by a special event at the offices of Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) on 5th May, with opening remarks from KCH Managing Director Professor David Kavanamur; Golda Gerora, Director of Post PNG; Emma Waiwai, Director of KCH; and Jane Hardy, First Secretary-Infrastructure (Telcos,Energy,SOEs) from the Australian High Commission. “Equipping women with the tools to lead effectively in state-owned enterprises is not just timely—it’s essential for driving better performance and more inclusive decision-making,” said Sarah Boxall, PSDI Economic Empowerment of Women Specialist. She said this Solomon Islands pilot program and the new SOE training module both mark important steps toward strengthening governance across the Pacific and fostering greater gender diversity in public enterprise leadership. The Director Development Program includes essential corporate governance topics such as the roles and responsibilities of directors, board strategy, financial oversight, and risk management. The new SOE module builds on this foundation by applying governance principles to real-world SOE scenarios, equipping participants to navigate the complex ethical and strategic challenges faced by SOE boards. PSDI is an ADB technical assistance program undertaken in partnership with the governments of Australia and New Zealand. It supports ADB’s 14 Pacific DMCs to improve the enabling environment for business and to achieve inclusive, private sector-led economic growth.

The Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) has officially launched the Goods and Services Tax Monitoring System (GMS) Project — marking the beginning of one of the most important tech reforms in PNG’s tax history. While the system is not live for taxpayers just yet, the launch of the project means work is now underway to bring this powerful new tool to life. The IRC explained that the GMS is a high-tech system that, once operational, will track GST transactions in real time at the point of sale. "Digital receipts sent instantly to IRC — a major boost for transparency and compliance. The system will help: Detect fraud in real time. Cut down on false invoicing. Make sure all businesses play by the same rules. Ensure more GST actually goes to public services. Allow for invoice matching in real time to address the issues of delays in GST refunds. Project implementation has begun, led by IRC in partnership with tech experts VirtualFlex Ltd and Data Tech International (DTI). The technology, known internationally as TaxCore, is already working in countries like Fiji, Samoa and Serbia amongst others," IRC stated. IRC Commissioner General Mr. Sam Koim when speaking about the IRC’s Annual Plan for 2025, said that the GMS will revolutionize GST compliance ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in collections. "To kick things off, IRC staff participated in a four-day internal GMS Awareness Workshop (6th to 9th May 2025) — ensuring the project team is informed, aligned, and ready to deliver this digital transformational system. IRC is embarking on a strategic direction to make GST the number one revenue earner for Government and to offset likely decreases in income tax, that includes salary and wages taxes. Stay tuned as we build toward full rollout — and a fairer, more efficient tax system for all," Commissioner Koim said.

The Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) is committed to making more investments in Western Province. MRDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (OFC) Mr. Augustine Mano said investments will be made in sectors that can give a better return. He made the commitment while speaking during the opening of the second CMCA review working committee discussions held at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby that this week. MRDC looks after project benefits for the beneficiaries that come from the Ok Tedi Mining project held in trust by its three subsidiaries, Mineral Resources Ok Tedi 2 (MROT2), Mineral Resources Star Mountain (MRSM) and CMCA Holdings Limited. “We will invest back into the province, in the sectors that can give a better return. We are dedicated to diligent investment management and remain highly confident in the continued growth and value of the assets entrusted to us. We will ensure the expansion of local investment within Western Province to create tangible benefits on the ground,” he said. The five-day CMCA review was hosted by the Ok Tedi Mining Limited and was attended by all stakeholders including the MRDC as the landowner trustee company. MRDC has maintained a strong and active presence throughout the CMCA review process. Last year, MRDC senior management team actively attended the review sessions held in Daru, Kiunga, and Tabubil, underscoring the significance of this process. In his speech, Mr. Mano also highlighted the importance of having a coordinating agency to channel funds to beneficiaries. He said if consolidated, there would be quite a lot of money going into the province for infrastructure alone. “If you look at the funds that are going to Western Province on infrastructure alone, and if you consolidate them, that's a lot of money. If you put OTML tax credit scheme, the SSGs (Special Support Grants), royalty, PNG SDP and the DDA funds, you put all of them under one basket, you're dealing with the same people,” he added. Mr. Mano said these are funds that need to be coordinated. “All we need is a coordinating agency to channel these funds to the beneficiaries and then develop and move on. “That is one area in this forum to address. There's an agency to coordinate so it goes to all the beneficiaries in the province. So, once you have the infrastructure, then you can expect investment to come, employment to be created, and you can see changes,” he said.

Renovation begins on Wewak’s agricultural training and extension serviced complex in East Sepik province, enhancing a facility crucial for farmer support as part of the wider EU-STREIT PNG Programme. This Programme represents the EU's first Global Gateway flagship initiative in PNG, aiming to boost sustainable rural development. The European Union-funded STREIT Programme in Papua New Guinea (EU-STREIT PNG) has officially commenced renovation and expansion works on the East Sepik Provincial Division of Agriculture and Livestock (ESP-DAL) Training and Office Complex in Wewak. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Papua New Guinea Department of Agriculture and Livestock (PNG DAL) Secretary Dr Sergie Bang, European Union (EU) Ambassador Jacques Fradin, United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Richard Howard, EU-STREIT PNG Programme Coordinator Ali Said Yesuf, as well as national and local stakeholders, underscoring the partnership’s collective dedication to sustainable agricultural development. Scheduled for completion in October 2025, the upgraded facility will include a fully equipped training hall for 80 participants, advanced audiovisual and IT equipment, dedicated meeting rooms, enhanced office spaces, and a central front desk to efficiently serve agripreneurs, farmers, and stakeholders.

Papua New Guinea now has full diplomatic representation in Geneva in Switzerland following the official opening of the Permanent Mission of Papua New Guinea to the United Nations, World Trade Organization (WTO) and other International Organization in Geneva on Thursday 8 May 2025 by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkatchenko. The opening of the Mission comes at a milestone year for the country as it prepares to commemorate its 50th Independence anniversary. This momentous occasion was witnessed by diplomats from the Commonwealth Delegation, Pacific Islands and other Small Island States, Papua New Guinea’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Fred Sarufa and senior officials from the Ministry and Department of Foreign Affairs. Minister Tkatchenko acknowledged and thanked the government of Switzerland for its support on the establishment of the Mission and its operations on the next few years. The minister also recognized the support extended by the United Nations and the Commonwealth Secretariat. He outlined that the opening of this Mission in Geneva illustrates the Government’s firm commitment to establish Missions in selected strategic locations to promote and secure PNG’s interests with different countries and organizations. “The opening of the PNG Mission in Geneva heralds a new era in our diplomatic engagement with the United Nations and the other international organizations in Geneva as well as renewed and more focused impetus in our bilateral relations with Switzerland that was established in 1976,” Minister Tkatchenko said. He further stated that the presence of the Mission in Geneva would enhance the country’s engagement with the United Nations, especially its current interface in key issues including human rights, health and intellectual property matters. “Geneva also hosts the World Trade Organization (WTO), an extremely important organization to PNG as a trading nation and member of WTO and the new Mission will ensure PNG has a stronger voice and continues to actively participate on global trade discussions and supports the rules based multilateral system under the WTO,” the Minister said. The Minister concluded that he was confident that with the opening of the Mission, PNG can expect increased people to people tie, regular exchanges amongst PNG Businesses to explore opportunities as well as increased cooperation in areas such as technology and innovation, education and training, research development and downstream processing.

The Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru is calling for an immediate review of import tariffs to give protection to local industries who are struggling to compete against cheap and dumped imports. Minister Maru expressed his deep dissatisfaction with the current way tariff policy is being administered, which he described as being done “unilaterally, discriminatorily and arbitrarily”. The Minister explained that the Tariff Reduction Program (TRP) was an externally imposed condition under the broader structural adjustment program, which began in 1999. “The tariff reduction program was agreed to be implemented with the view to encourage economic efficiency and boost productivity. Lowering tariffs was also seen as a way to encourage a competitive private sector by gradually exposing them to foreign competition. Under the tariff review program, almost 80 percent of import tariffs have been liberalized with protective rates being progressively reduced, "Minister Maru queried the economic benefits promised under the tariff reduction program. He said Papua New Guinea’s economic structure remains largely unchanged since the implementation of the program. "Local manufacturing accounts for only 3 to 6 percent of GDP with the country continuing to be heavily dependent on exports of raw commodities and imports of goods and services that can be locally produced, and manufacturing companies have remained stagnant over the years with not much growth," he said. Minister Maru explained that some countries and foreign businesses have been engaged in unfair trade practices using subsidies to gain competitive advantages over highly vulnerable countries like Papua New Guinea (PNG) which are currently not equipped with the legislative and technical capacity to respond to cheap, dumped imports according to agreed international procedures of the World Trade Organization. “PNG’s production costs are lower than most of our trading partners, and without the use of government sponsored subsidies, their products would not be as competitive in international markets. These cheap dumped goods are then imported into PNG and sold at lower-than-normal market prices posing steep competition for local manufacturers who are forced to scale down operations just to survive or even in some cases, close operations. Tariffs are, therefore, an important trade policy instrument that can address unfair trade practices,” said Minister Maru. Minister Maru further highlighted that other countries have successfully leveraged tariffs as a negotiating tool to encourage investment into their local manufacturing industries rather than use them for fiscal purposes only. “With most of PNG’s tariffs already zero rated, and any remaining protective tariffs envisaged to be progressively reduced under any future tariff reduction program, PNG is essentially giving away its bargaining chips when it comes to negotiating future free trade and investment deals. Through the tariff reduction program, PNG has allowed countries to freely access our markets with nothing in return, " he said. Minister Maru also questioned why key agencies responsible for trade and investment were left out in final decisions on tariff setting. “The global trading economy is also undergoing substantial transformation driven largely by advancements in digital technology and rising geo-political tensions, PNG’s national tariff policy should therefore respond to the new realities of conducting commerce in a changing trading environment. Therefore, I am calling for an immediate and complete review of the tariff reduction program with an emphasis on inclusive and comprehensive stakeholder engagement," he added. Minister Maru has directed the National Trade Office, with support from the Department of International Trade and Investment, to work with the Department of Treasury and establish a Tariff Working Group which should include agencies responsible for trade and investment, as well as private sector and the broader business trading community. “This Group will look into strategies in which PNG’s Tariff policy can contribute to attracting investments as well as growing the domestic manufacturing sector and future trade arrangements,” said Minister Maru.

Prime Minister (PM) James Marape, on behalf of the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, has extended heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. PM Marape said the elevation of Pope Leo XIV comes at a time when the world seeks moral clarity, peace, compassion, and hope in the face of many complex challenges. “On behalf of the people of Papua New Guinea, including our vibrant Catholic community, I convey our warmest congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election to the Papacy. “We join with millions around the world in praying for wisdom, strength, and grace as he begins his work as the spiritual leader of Vatican and Catholic Church,” Prime Minister Marape said. Mr. Marape praised the Roman Catholic Church’s long and continuing contribution to Papua New Guinea’s development, particularly in education, health care, and social justice. “The Catholic Church has played an instrumental role in shaping the moral and social fabric of our nation since before Independence. We are confident that under the guidance of Pope Leo XIV, the Church will continue to be a beacon of faith, peace, and human dignity,” he said. PM Marape reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s commitment to maintaining its strong relationship with the Holy See and looks forward to future engagement under the new Pontificate. “We pray that Pope Leo XIV will be blessed with divine wisdom as he shepherds the Catholic Church and continue on the good work of fighting for the rights of the poor and leading people back to God’s Word,” PM Marape added.

Digicel PNG makes another bold step to fostering financial inclusion in rural PNG, through a new arrangement between Digicel CellMoni and Kamapim Ltd. This strategic arrangement promises to bring digital financial and payment services to thousands of unbanked Papua New Guineans, particularly women and smallholder farmers who lack access to formal financial services. It will further enable rural producers, many of whom lack identity documents and live far away from banking infrastructures. The access to traditional financial services including sending and receiving money and making secure payments via Digicel CellMoni’s mobile money service. This innovative approach supports Kamapim Ltd’s mission to build transparent, regenerative, and equitable value chains, starting with the Vanilla sector. “Most women in the rural areas are excluded from the economy because they lack formal IDs and access to financial services. By integrating Digicel CellMoni’s digital wallet system with our traceable sourcing platform, we can offer farmers, especially women a safe, fast, and transparent way to be paid and empower them to be economic contributors,” said Nancy Irwin, Managing Director of Kamapim Ltd. She said through this partnership, farmers supplying vanilla and other high-value crops to Kamapim Ltd will be issued digital economic identities, allowing them to register their Digicel CellMoni wallet and receive mobile payments, build a digital financial history, and gain access to savings and other financial services such as paying for school fees or superannuation. This is particularly transformative in remote areas where formal banking is inaccessible or non-existent. “At Digicel Cellmoni, we are proud to partner with Kamapim Ltd to drive real change in communities that need it most. We believe digital inclusion is a pathway to economic empowerment, especially for farmers and women in rural PNG and we are more than happy to facilitate this through our strategic alliance with Kamapim Ltd,” said Thompson Sakyi, Managing Director at Digicel Cellmoni PNG. The pilot phase will be launched in Afore LLG, Oro Province and Boiga District, Madang Province with plans to scale across Kamapim’s wider farming network of 21,000+ smallholders by 2026. The integration will also support supply chain traceability, climate-smart agriculture, and gender-inclusive practices aligned with national and donor priorities for inclusive rural transformation.

The South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO), in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA), has released Papua New Guinea’s first Business Confidence Index (BCI) report. This report provides valuable insights into business outlook and tourism recovery, helping guide smarter policies and stronger private sector involvement. PNG is one of 10 Pacific Island nations participating in the PTDI, alongside the Cook Islands, Niue, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and FSM-Yap. “Funded by the New Zealand Government, PTDI continues to play a key role in strengthening regional tourism strategies through data-driven research, including the bi-annual IVS, the annual Business Confidence Index (BCI), and the annual Community Attitude Survey (CAS). The BCI survey was conducted from November 2024 to February 2025, gathering 299 responses, with 206 valid entries analyzed. The effort was made possible through a strong partnership between SPTO and PNGTPA, with both organizations working together to reach businesses across all four regions of the country,” PNG TPA said. SPTO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christopher Cocker highlighted the importance of the collaboration and said this achievement reflects the strong leadership of PNGTPA. “Their close connection with the local business community and focus on data-driven planning were key to collecting valuable insights that will help shape the future of tourism in Papua New Guinea. While responses came from a wide range of sectors, it is important to note that the sample was primarily focused on tourism businesses — a deliberate approach aligned with the survey’s aim of understanding tourism recovery and business confidence within the sector. As a result, 62% of respondents were tourism-related businesses, while the remainder represented sectors such as real estate, healthcare, media, engineering, and events. The survey also found that 90% of participating businesses were Papua New Guinean-owned. More than half (52%) were based in the Southern region, followed by Momase (25%), Islands (25%), and Highlands (22%). The report found that large tourism businesses generated an average annual revenue of PGK 10.3 million, while micro-enterprises averaged PGK 15,594. Labour costs accounted for 33% of business expenditure, inventory 37%, and other operating costs 31%. “Notably, 47% of goods and services were sourced locally, with 53% imported. Despite persistent challenges, there is optimism across the sector. 59% of businesses reported they were actively hiring, although workforce availability (40%), recruitment (33%), and financial barriers (19%) remain key concerns,” he said. He added that broader systemic issues were also cited, including security (21%), infrastructure (19%), and limited government support (10%). “Even so, many businesses see growth opportunities through increasing visitor demand (19%), strategic partnerships (16%), expansion opportunities (15%), and enhanced government support (14%),” Mr. Cocker said. PNGTPA CEO Eric Mossman Uvovo welcomed the report and praised the partnership with SPTO, stating that the BCI report is an important step forward in understanding the real-time challenges and opportunities our businesses face. “We thank SPTO for its technical leadership and are proud to have partnered in this effort. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to shaping a resilient, inclusive, and data-driven tourism sector for PNG,” Mr. Uvovo said. Mr. Cocker added that this report marks the beginning of a data-driven approach to tourism recovery and private sector engagement in Papua New Guinea. “SPTO and PNGTPA will use the findings to guide planning, investment, and business support initiatives. The Business Confidence Index is a key part of the New Zealand-funded Pacific Tourism Data Initiative, designed to capture local perspectives and guide tourism development that truly reflects community needs. We sincerely thank NZMFAT for funding this important survey, the PNGTPA team for their strong collaboration and the businesses that contributed their time and insights,” said Mr. Cocker.

The new Austrian Ambassador, Elisabeth Koegler, has met with the Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru, to express Austria’s keen interest to do business with Papua New Guinea (PNG). Ambassador Koegler said Austria’s area of interest in investing in PNG was in downstream processing of forestry, solar, hi-tech industries and hydro. Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over 9 million. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a nominal per capita GDP of over US$40,000 (2018 est.) and the country has developed a high standard of living, ranking18th in the world on the Human Development Index in 2019. Austria boasts a highly developed, export-oriented economy with strong industrial, service, and tourism sectors. The country benefits from its strategic location at the heart of Europe, serving as a key trade and logistics hub between Western and Eastern Europe. With a well-educated workforce and high levels of innovation, Austria is home to strong industrial firms in machinery, automotive parts, and pharmaceuticals, while Vienna serves as a financial center for the region. In terms of trade between Austria and PNG, in 2023, PNG exported US$6.3 million to Austria with the main export products being processed fish, pulley systems and lifting machinery, whilst Austria exported US$1.66 million to PNG with the main products being other printed materials, interchangeable tool parts and other heating machinery. Minister Maru expressed his interest to work with Ambassador Koegler and the Austrian Embassy to have more Austrian investors to come and invest in PNG. “We want more investments in the hydro and green energy space, manufacturing, and downstream processing of forestry and building,” said Minister Maru.