Prime Minister (PM) James Marape has expressed his appreciation to the Government of France, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Union for supporting the proposed redevelopment of Rabaul Port in East New Britain Province.
He described the project as one of Papua New Guinea’s most strategically vital economic infrastructure investments.
According to PM Marape, the proposed K400 million redevelopment work will transform Rabaul Port into a modern regional maritime and logistics hub. The upgraded facility will support PNG’s growing fisheries, agriculture, forestry, and export industries, while positioning the country as a strategic gateway into the Pacific.
The Prime Minister noted that Rabaul Port is already one of the country’s busiest hubs, handling significant volumes of coastal shipping, tuna operations, and regional cargo annually.
"Rabaul Port is not just an East New Britain asset; it is a strategic national deep-water harbor with enormous regional potential," Prime Minister Marape said.
"We thank our European partners for helping mobilize around K400 million to redevelop this vital port into a modern facility for the future."
PM Marape emphasized that the project demonstrates the practical value of strong bilateral relations, defending the necessity of official overseas travel by national leaders to secure trade and development partnerships.
"People must understand that when the Prime Minister travels overseas, it is not for leisure—it is for state business," he stated. "At the core of government-to-government relations is the promotion of trade, investment, and economic cooperation for the benefit of our people."
He added that regular engagement with global partners like France, China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia is essential for creating such opportunities.
"Since becoming Prime Minister, I have consistently maintained that Papua New Guinea should not depend on handouts or aid. We are pursuing meaningful economic partnerships that will grow our economy," Marape said, noting that his travel itineraries are often highly compressed, involving long transit hours and short turnarounds.
The Prime Minister concluded that the Rabaul Port redevelopment will serve as a major catalyst for economic growth in the New Guinea Islands region while boosting PNG’s long-term maritime and export capacity.
