The PNG Chamber of Resources & Energy (PNG CORE), in collaboration with the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), participated in the 2025 Prospectors & Developers’ Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, held in Toronto, Canada, from March 2-5. PDAC is the world's largest mining conference, attracting over 27,000 delegates and featuring more than 1,100 exhibition booths. PNG CORE stated that the combined booth of MRA and PNG CORE was supported by expert geologists and industry executives who spent three and a half intense days engaging with the international investment community. They addressed concerns and attracted significant investment interest to Papua New Guinea. “PNG CORE is grateful for the participation of the Minister for Mining Wake Goi (MP), and the Assistant Minister for Mining, who attended and participated in several government-to-government meetings, fostering mutually beneficial interests between respective countries. "While it is impressive to attend the world's largest mining conference, I realize that the PNG Investment Week offers more engagement, networking, and relationship-building opportunities. This sentiment was shared by other participants who attended both events. "We believe that many of these investors may attend the PNG Investment Week in Sydney in December this year to further explore their interest in investing in the PNG mining sector or servicing the mining sectors," said PNG CORE Events Chair and Councilor Mark McMonagle. The industry acknowledges the challenges faced in recent years, including a decline in exploration activities and concerns over the depletion of mineral resources. These issues highlight the importance of attracting new investments and revitalizing interest in PNG's mining sector. PNG CORE recognizes the value of industry working closely with the government to address these challenges. “Collaborative efforts are essential to overcoming obstacles and ensuring the sustainable development of the mining sector. PNG CORE's participation in PDAC aligns with its strategic direction to promote investment through events, knowledge sharing, and convening. This initiative demonstrates the collaborative efforts of MRA and PNG CORE to show investors worldwide that industry and government are working together to promote the industry for the benefit of PNG's people and its investors,” PNG CORE said.

Member for Hiri-Koiari Keith Iduhu attended and proudly supported the second-ever graduation ceremony of students from the Mount Koiari Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE) Centre in Manari. He commended the resilience and determination of the students who overcame the extreme remoteness and challenging terrain of the Kokoda Track to complete their secondary education. Speaking at the event, Mr. Iduhu congratulated the graduating students and acknowledged the significance of FODE in providing life-changing education opportunities to remote communities. "This is a moment of great pride for all of us. These students have faced incredible challenges to complete their studies, and their achievements are a testament to their perseverance, dedication, and commitment to their future," said Mr. Iduhu. The event saw Grade 10 and Grade 12 students receive their certificates. This included a community health worker supported by the Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) health program, who is now exploring pathways to become a nurse. Mr. Iduhu praised the efforts of the KTF team, including CEO Dr Genevieve Nelson, Head of Education Martha Bentley, and proud lecturer Joe Wenis, for their unwavering support in making education accessible in such difficult terrain. He also expressed gratitude to the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their #ANCP support, which has helped sustain the centre and empower local students. "The ability to study high school ‘on your doorstep’—even in the most remote and rugged locations—is a transformative opportunity. "I encourage more students to embrace FODE and continue their education, as learning is the key to a brighter future for our communities," Mr. Iduhu said. Mr. Iduhu reaffirmed his commitment to supporting education initiatives in Hiri-Koiari and ensuring that every child, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to access quality education. "Education is the foundation of progress, and we must continue investing in programs like FODE to uplift our young people and build a stronger future for our district and our nation," he said.

SP Brewery joined hands with the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day on Friday 7th March. SP Brewery stated that International Women’s Day (March 8th) is an opportunity to reflect on the status of women’s rights worldwide and the path towards gender balance, all while celebrating diverse women role models and their achievements. "This year’s theme, 'AccelerateAction', is embedded in our core value—Care for People. When people feel valued, included, and empowered, they perform at their best, driving innovation, growth, and lasting success. This is why we believe the combination of performance, inclusion, and diversity are key to our business success," SP Brewery said. The company added that their purpose is to brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world. "And our workplace is the starting place. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive and one that reflects the diversity of our consumers worldwide. As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, internal activities were organized throughout our offices to recognize the invaluable contributions of women in our organization," SP Brewery said.

Prime Minister James Marape gave assurance that his government is keen on delivering the Local Level Government (LLG) Elections and By-Elections in the respective Provinces in 2025. After a meeting with Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai, Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Soroi Eoe, Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey, Department of Finance Secretary Samuel Penias and Secretary for National Planning Koney Samuel, PM Marape said the respective revised Elections schedules will be announced soon. “The Electoral Commission, Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs and relevant authorities will be given the financial and other necessary support that they need to conduct the LLG Elections and By-Elections, which had to be deferred for convenience purposes, given other major related events last year such as the National Census. My government will ensure to deliver the LLG Elections and the outstanding By-Elections in specific Districts or Provinces in due course,” PM Marape said. In assuring the nation of the Government’s plans to deliver the Elections, he also urged the respective Provincial Governments and District Authorities to take responsibility in ensuring smooth delivery of the LLG Elections or By-Elections. “We as a Government will provide the necessary resources required for the Elections. However, the onus is also upon the Provincial Governments and District Authorities to co-operate and assist the responsible central agencies of Government who will be working to successfully deliver the Elections as planned,” he said. Mr. Marape is calling for free, fair and non-violent elections, as the Government prepares to conduct the LLG Elections and By-Elections. “My government appreciates the importance of the Local Level Government, and the key function it plays in our country’s governance system. It is the level of Government that deals directly with our people in the village communities throughout our country. “We greatly value the LLG level of Government in our country and, therefore, our government has for the first time in our nation’s history enabled Ward Councilors and LLG Presidents to be on Government Payroll. This is a significant step forward for our nation, as far as empowering our people and enabling efficient delivery of services to our local communities is concerned. “Therefore, I call on our people throughout the country to ensure good leaders are elected during the LLG Elections. Make wise choices through your votes, thus enabling community leaders who have shown promising leadership and can be able to adjudicate well on community issues and problems,” he said. “I appeal to our people far and wide to utilize this electoral process in the LLG Elections well to have good order in our communities. So, at the conclusion of this LLG electoral process, we want to make sure that we have quality leadership put in place to serve our people with due diligence,” he added.

The Minister for Petroleum Jimmy Maladina presented the Oil and Gas Act Amendment Bill to Parliament today. Minister Maladina thanked the Assistant Speaker of Parliament for allowing him to present the Oil and Gas Act Amendment Bill 2025 to the House, stating that the Bill is consequential to the National Petroleum Authority Bill, aligning the legislations in meaning and function. “Mr. Speaker this consequential amendment Bill defines the National Petroleum Authority in the Oil and Gas Act 1998. Once enacted, the National Petroleum Authority will replace and supersede the Department of Petroleum and Energy as the administrator of the Oil and Gas Act 1998, which is the primary legislation, regulating the Petroleum industry and activities in Papua New Guinea,” he said. Minister Maladina stated that this proposed Bill is consequential, given effect to the proposed National Petroleum Authority Bill for an Act 2025. The Bill states that the amendments will commence in accordance with a notice in the National Gazette, by the Head of State, acting with, and in accordance with, the advice of the Minister. Minister for State Owned Enterprises William Duma commended the Minister for Petroleum Jimmy Maladina for presenting the Bill and supported the Bill. Prime Minister James Marape supported the Bill stating that the Bill will give the government a platform to move into a hybrid production region that has PNG characteristics that will include not chasing investors away. “This Bill will protect our investors so they too are making money, and it will clarify as to what the PNG is entitled to whether it is tax, royalty, equity levies. I just want to give assurance to the industry stakeholders out there that this restructure happening will not diminish their presence, rather it will ensure they are operating in clarity,” PM Marape added.

In a New Ireland cultural ritual the New Ireland Provincial Government, LLG Presidents, few New Ireland Chiefs (Maimais) and the Chan family performed a cultural wash down of the footprints of the Late Sir Julius Chan at the National Parliament after the first Parliament sitting for 2025. The first Parliament sitting was dedicated to the Late Sir Julius Chan where tributes were given by members of Parliament. Before the Cultural Ritual, New Ireland Acting Governor Sammy Missen led the New Ireland provincial government delegation and the Chan family into the late Sir Julius Chan’s National Parliament Office. Mr. Missen stated that it is a big thing to enter the office of the late Sir Julius after his passing, New Ireland has traditional customs and to enter the office belonging to a great leader as Sir Julius is a big thing. “We are very heartbroken and sad to enter his office at this time where he is unavailable and with that, we the government of New Ireland, LLG Presidents and assembly members came here to conduct the final Cultural wash down of footprints and appreciation concluding obligation of the Late Sir Julius Chan here at Parliament,” Mr. Missen said. Before entering the office, the acting governor presented a New Ireland Traditional shell money (Mis) to Sir Julius Chan’s daughter Vanessa to allow him and his delegation to enter Sir Julius Chan’s Parliament office to pay their respects and later proceed to perform the cultural wash down of his footprints outside the National Parliament House. The Cultural Ritual took place at the steps of Parliament House where the Acting Governor and the New Ireland Maimais performed a traditional dance and perform a cultural wash down of his footprints by sweeping the steps of Parliament and calling on Sir Julius to follow them back to New Ireland. Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Walter Schnaubelt also took part in the cultural ritual by presenting a Mis to one of the Maimais and following the family in the program. All New Ireland LLG Presidents also took part in the ritual and stated that they all have arrived at Parliament to wash down the footprints of their late leader and make sure his work at Parliament is complete to make way for the new person who will take his place.

Papua New Guinea artists Saii Kay, Mereani Masani, Jarahn, Kali-D, and J Liko have departed yesterday on Air Niugini's flight to Honiara, Solomon Islands, to perform at the highly anticipated inaugural Aelan Riddim Music Festival this weekend. The airline stated that as a proud support partner of the festival, Air Niugini aims to highlight the vibrant music scene of Papua New Guinea and celebrate the rich Melanesian artistic culture. "The flight PX84 was under the command of Captain Claude Ario and First Officer Jonathan Mandie, accompanied by the dedicated crew members Giam Aisi and Luke Brooks. Air Niugini offers up to five weekly flights to Honiara, facilitating seamless travel throughout the Melanesian region, including access to destinations such as Fiji and Vanuatu. We invite travelers to take advantage of our diverse range of services, including prepaid baggage options and lounge access, to enhance their travel experience," Air Niugini said.

Following the heavy rainfall yesterday in Port Moresby, Motu Koita Assembly, NCDC Engineering, and the Contractor conducted site visits to Pari, Kirakira, and Badihagwa villages to assess the damage to their feeder roads. Motu Koita Assembly (MKA) stated that the discussions between all parties this morning have resulted in an agreement for the Contractor to address critical areas in need of immediate fixes while they await the rollout of their new feeder road constructions. “Under the 2025 MKA/NCD Infrastructure Budget, we are set to begin major feeder road developments in Pari, Kirakira, Mahuru, Korobosea, Elevala, Hanuabada, and Elevala Mirigini. This initiative reflects the Assembly’s ongoing commitment to improving road access and infrastructure for our communities. We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we work towards long-term, sustainable solutions for our roads and drainage systems in the communities,” MKA said. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued another warning that moderate to heavy rains have intensified over the last 12 hours and will impact with the potential to cause riverine and flash flooding in parts of NGI, Momase, the Highlands and Southern regions. People residing in these regions are advised to take precaution.

Under the theme ‘Accelerate Action’ the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Port Moresby celebrated the 2025 International Women’s Day at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby on Friday, 7 February. Business and Professional Women’s Club of Port Moresby (BPW) President Jessinta Wagambie stated the IWD celebration marks BPW hosting its 16th International Women’s Day Breakfast since 2009, which signifies BPW’s efforts to commemorate International Women’s Day and draw attention to gain quantity in the country. Ms. Wagambai said that it is pleasing to see that more and more organizations are commemorating International Women’s Day by hosting various events. “Over the years it is pleasing to see both men and women celebrating International Women’s Day. I commend all the men, our male champions who are present today, who have raised their hands to attend BPW’s IWD Breakfast. We need men champions as we strive to empower women and girls in our country. Education is an essential for women to be empowered and become leaders of change. While women and girls are far more educated than before gaps remain. Empowering women has advantages and empowering women greater power and the reality of women and family around her,” Ms. Wagambie said. She said BPW IWD Breakfast was made possible because of a long partnership and generosity Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Australia partnership since 2009. “We truly appreciate the continued support that has enable BPW to host its annual IWD breakfast. Over the years BPW has displayed significant role in empowering women and girls to obtain quality education. Our contribution is made possible through our generous development partners and the dedication and commitment of a small group of committed women, non-paid volunteers who contributed selflessly their time and resources to ensure the success and sustainability of the scholarship program and varies activities,” she said.

The Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) firmly opposes the recent push by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to establish an "Oversight Board" to supervise the IRC’s administration and enforcement of tax laws. This proposal, reported on (10/03/2025), is deeply concerning and threatens the integrity and independence of the IRC. IRC Commissioner General Mr. Sam Koim stated that his objection to this proposal is not rooted in self-preservation or personal interest. “This is not about me or my position. The IRC is a statutory institution, larger than any individual who temporarily occupies the office. Accountability is a cornerstone of good governance, and as a staunch advocate for transparency, I welcome robust accountability mechanisms.” “However, the IRC already has both internal and external accountability frameworks in place. Therefore, any intervention must be justified with concrete evidence and a sound policy rationale,” Mr. Koim said. Mr. Koim said despite several discussions with proponents of this proposal, no cogent justification has been presented to date. “We are yet to see a convincing argument as to why an additional oversight board is necessary or what policy deficit it intends to address.” “Where is the evidence that our current mechanisms are failing or that there has been a breakdown in performance or accountability? Without clear answers, it is difficult to comprehend why such a drastic structural intervention is being pursued.” “Papua New Guinea has unique governance challenges that demand careful consideration when designing accountability mechanisms.” “The IRC’s journey from a deemed department to a statutory authority established under the Internal Revenue Commission Act 2014 is a reflection of progress and modernization,” he said. He added that the IRC, much like the Public Prosecutor and Auditor General, has adopted an autonomous revenue administration model that exists in many countries and is entrusted with monocratic authority to enforce tax laws independently and without fear or favour. “Placing a structural oversight board, comprised of board members from the private sector, over this function would undermine the very essence of that independence.” “What is even more concerning is the timing of this push. It coincides with ongoing audits of several major multinational corporations that have never been scrutinized by the tax office. This coincidence raises serious questions about the IMF Country Director’s intentions and the motives behind this proposal.” “While we acknowledge and appreciate the budget support from the IMF and the development partners, we are troubled by the apparent use of financial leverage to force through structural changes that lack rationale.” Mr. Koim said the IMF’s role as both a lender and an increasingly influential financial advisor gives it significant sway over our fiscal landscape. “However, not all reforms are inherently good or necessary, and we must be vigilant in scrutinizing proposals that threaten the effective functioning of our institutions given our unique challenges. The IRC has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years, moving from a passive tax collector to a modern, robust, and resilient organization. Our revenue performance has surged from K8 billion in 2020 to nearly K17 billion last year—an impressive testament to our commitment to delivering on our core mandate. We have built an accountable, resilient, and agile institution that consistently achieves outstanding results,” Mr. Koim said. He added that attempting to change an institution that is already delivering at an optimal level makes no sense. “One must question the motives behind the IMF Director’s insistence on introducing this oversight mechanism.” “There has been no demonstration that the current structure is failing or that the proposed changes would lead to better outcomes.” “It appears to be an attempt to "fix" what is already working exceptionally well, raising doubts about the true intent behind this push.” “We call on the IMF and its representatives to respect the sovereignty of our institutions and to engage in transparent and evidence-based discussions about any proposed reforms.” Mr. Koim said the Prime Minister has given clear instructions that this proposal is not going to be supported but it seems they are adamant in pushing to have this tied to the loan conditions. “The integrity and independence of the IRC must not be compromised hence this call.”

The Japan Osaka Expo has a special ring to Tourism Arts and Culture as it does to international trade and investment. Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Belden Namah said this during the official launching of the PNG Osaka Expo last week at the National Parliament by Prime Minister James Marape. Minister Namah stated that Papua New Guinea should see Japan as a major tourism partner because Japan has more interest in PNG’s War relics and historical sites in Rabaul, Bougainville, Milne Bay and many other sites in the country. “Japan is also one of the consumers for PNG LNG and in attending the Tourism Resilience Conference last year in November, I saw a huge potential for both countries to tap into not only for Trade and Intvestment but also in tourism. Japan’s second biggest GDP is tourism after automobile, and I am asking the government to reconsider reopening Air Niugini flights to Japan. I am asking for the reopening of flights to Japan because I have great confidence in Japan that Japan can become a major tourism partner to PNG. Japan has also contributed so much to our economy, Japan funded the Nadzab Tomodachi international airport and Japan has great interest in the fishing industry in the country so why don't we utilize the Jackson International Airport and the Lae International airport to start sending fresh Tuna to Japan, these are opportunities that PNG can tap into,” Mr. Namah said. He added that with Japan there is a huge potential in the international trade and investment, tourism arts and culture so let us take the Japan Osaka Expo as an opportunity to showcase PNG’s authentic art and culture in Japan. “Japan is one country in the world that promote Indigenous art and culture, and we can tap into that market as a country. We are also best placed in the world to show our incredibly diversity in arts and culture, traditions, languages and tourist attractions in PNG. PNG should have a culture office in Japan within our existing embassy in Japan,” he said. Mr. Namah added that as a nation in the tourism sector, they will be hosting a PNG Tourism conference in April 2025.

In a small but significant event, the Women’s Micro Bank (Mama Bank) celebrated the 2025 Women’s International Day last Friday. During the event, the Women’s Micro Bank presented certificates to mothers who participated in their Financial Literacy Training (FLT) and included success stories from four mothers who have become successful in their small businesses and human development programs through Women’s Micro Bank assistance. Mama Bank Chief Executive Officer Mr. Gunanidhi Das said that Women’s Micro Bank belongs to the mothers (mamas) and he is happy to hear success stories that the bank is actually helping mothers in the country. Mr. Das said that the important thing is that mothers or any customer know the position they are in now (financially) and out of 100%, they may have 5% or 10% and if they believe in that 10%, they can build something. “I am inspired to hear these success stories from these mamas, most of the time we only see the finish product and we do not know what really happens at the backend. I am happy that these mamas were able to get help from mama bank and are here telling us their stories,” Mr. Das said. Four of the mothers who shared their success stories encouraged the other mothers to learn how to save money and improve their saving culture instead of spending. “I came to Mama Bank and asked for a loan to help me with my small business. I planned that within the next few months of getting the loan, I will make sure I repay my loan, and I did,” one of the mother’s said. Another encouraged them all to develop their mind and the way they think towards running a business saying, “As a small business owner, you must learn to put money into good use that will have profit and not just spending. “You have to put your money to proper use where you can see the profit,” she added. After the presentation of the certificate, they celebrated International Women’s Day and congratulated every participant.