AGP Executive Report

Innovation & Agribusiness: University of Goroka researcher Kathleen Diapong won Innovator of the Year at PNG’s 8th Research, Science and Technology Conference for a Local Stockfeed Formulation, with other category winners spanning hybrid solar, apps for road reporting and language, home automation, and a “Peri Oil” treatment project. Tourism & Aviation: PNG showcased cultural, nature and adventure attractions at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, backed by Air Niugini’s direct flights to Hong Kong to drive visitor links. Hospitality Skills Pipeline: IHG PNG signed an MoU with Caritas Technical Secondary School to train young Papua New Guineans for hospitality career pathways. Digital Government Services: Lae City Authority launched ServiceLink with NiuPay, letting residents and businesses pay land taxes online and easing cash and queue pressures. Resource Governance: Oro Governor Garry Juffa warned outdated colonial-era resource laws could leave landowners exposed, calling for reforms to restore control and benefits. Energy & Investment Signals: TotalEnergies flagged growth beyond 2030 with Namibia and Papua New Guinea in its portfolio, while also moving ahead on Absheron’s full-field gas development. Climate Risk to Food: Reports say El Niño-linked drought and severe frosts have damaged Highlands crops, threatening food supplies and incomes. Sports Sponsorship: Trukai renewed sponsorship of the Game Fishing Association PNG National Titles with K50,000 annually for four years. Business-to-Trade Push: PM Marape urged US firms to shift PNG ties from aid to trade, pitching incentives and major resource projects.

China-PNG Trade Push: PNG marked 50 years of ties with China in Beijing, with both sides pointing to China as PNG’s biggest trading partner and major engineering contracting market. US-Linked Investment Drive: PM James Marape urged American firms to shift from aid to trade, pitching PNG’s resource projects and incentives during UNGA week in New York. Hospitality Jobs Pipeline: IHG PNG signed an MoU with Caritas Technical Secondary School to train young Papua New Guineans for hospitality careers. Land Tax Goes Digital (Lae): Lae City Authority launched ServiceLink with NiuPay, letting residents and businesses pay land taxes online and reducing cash handling at municipal offices. Resource Rights Warning: Oro Governor Garry Juffa warned colonial-era resource laws can leave landowners exposed in mining and logging decisions, calling for reform. Energy & LNG Context: TotalEnergies flagged growth beyond 2030, naming Papua New Guinea among portfolio countries, while also moving ahead with Absheron in Azerbaijan. Cocoa Export Boost: PNG’s cocoa industry generated over K1.8b in export earnings last year, with a push to reach K2b. Coffee Supply Disruption: Highlands coffee exports to Lae are stalled during peak season, threatening incomes across the supply chain. Fuel Subsidy Review: Government is considering extending fuel subsidies into next year as global prices stay high. Sports Sponsorship: Trukai renewed K50,000 annual sponsorship for the PNG game fishing national titles in Lae. Diplomacy in Europe: PNG and Montenegro established formal diplomatic relations, targeting cooperation in tourism, renewables, agriculture and digital innovation. Climate Stress on Food: El Niño-linked frosts are damaging crops in PNG, with knock-on food security risks.

Sports Sponsorship: Trukai Industries renews sponsorship of the Game Fishing Association PNG National Titles for four more years, pledging K50,000 annually for the 50th event in Lae (March 20–28), with PNG Ports Corporation and Islands Petroleum also backing the tournament. Municipal Digital Services: Lae City Authority launches ServiceLink with fintech partner NiuPay, letting residents and businesses pay land taxes online by linking property records and settling bills remotely, aiming to cut cash handling and office congestion. Agribusiness Disruption: Coffee exports from the Highlands face delays as movement to Lae for container packing and export clearances stalls during peak season, risking knock-on impacts for growers, exporters, transport and storage. Energy & Investment Signals: TotalEnergies outlines a growth push—up to $17bn a year in capex, 4% annual energy production growth through 2030, and higher buybacks/dividends—while Absheron’s full-field FID is confirmed and Venus timing in Namibia remains unresolved. Resource Governance: Oro Governor Gary Juffa warns PNG and Solomon Islands risk losing control of natural resources unless colonial-era laws are reformed to strengthen customary landowners’ power over mining and forestry decisions. Climate Risk to Food Security: Severe El Niño-linked frosts are damaging PNG crops, and the same frost threat is rising for Australian farmers, with taro, sweet potato, bananas and sugarcane among reported losses. Cocoa Economy: PNG’s cocoa sector generated over K1.8bn in export earnings last year (about 61,000 tonnes), with government targeting growth beyond K2bn through a 2026–2035 strategic plan. TVET & Skills: Australia delivers construction tools and equipment to West New Britain Technical College to boost practical training for careers across construction, agriculture, fisheries, cocoa and oil palm.

NRL Commercial Boost: PNG Chiefs lock in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners as a Premier Partner on a multi-year deal, with Coca-Cola branding on jerseys and exclusive non-alcoholic ready-to-drink rights ahead of the 2028 season. Energy & Investment Signals: TotalEnergies backs the Absheron gas project with a final investment decision, while keeping Namibia’s Venus oil timing unresolved—meanwhile the group maps higher dividends, buybacks and up to $17bn a year in capex through 2032. Lae Digital Payments: Lae City Authority launches ServiceLink with NiuPay so residents and businesses can register and pay land taxes online, aiming to cut cash handling and office congestion. Coffee Export Disruption: Highlands coffee shipments to Lae are stalled during peak season, risking knock-on delays for exporters, transport and growers. ICT Skills for Industry: Divine Word University students showcase practical information systems projects, pushing digital transformation that doesn’t leave less-connected communities behind. Cocoa Revenue Push: PNG’s cocoa sector tops K1.8bn in export earnings from 61,000 tonnes, with government targeting K2bn and longer-term jobs growth. Mining Jobs: K92 Mining advertises a Heavy Equipment Operator role for its Kainantu gold operations, supporting exploration drilling in rugged terrain. Pacific Media & Policy: PNG will host the 2028 Pacific Media Summit as PINA strengthens self-regulation and fact-checking priorities for the region.

Energy & Capital Returns: TotalEnergies is boosting shareholder buybacks to $2.5bn for Q4 2026 (from $1.5bn) and plans $2bn–$2.5bn in Q1 2027, alongside dividend growth of more than 5% a year through 2030, while targeting oil and gas output growth of 2%–3% annually in 2030–35, with Papua New Guinea among its project base. Banking Skills: Westpac Pacific’s Future Banker Development Series is training emerging banking professionals across Fiji and Papua New Guinea, with a six-month program focused on customer skills and workplace effectiveness. TVET for Industry: Australia-backed equipment delivery to West New Britain Technical College aims to lift practical training for construction, agriculture, fisheries, cocoa and oil palm—feeding PNG’s demand for skilled workers. Cocoa Jobs Push: PNG’s cocoa sector hit K1.8bn+ in export earnings in 2025 (61,000 tonnes) and the 2026–2035 Cocoa Industry Strategic Plan targets export growth and up to one million jobs via downstream processing and value chains. Diplomacy for Investment: PM James Marape used UNGA week to urge US businesses to shift from aid to trade, seeking more investment and defence cooperation implementation. Infrastructure & Defence: Australia and PNG are upgrading Moem Barracks in Wewak, improving water and sewer systems and creating local jobs under the Defence Cooperation Program. Media & Governance: PNG will host the 2028 Pacific Media Summit, with PINA leadership stressing self-regulation and readiness ahead of upcoming elections. Risk & Social Stability: A report examines whether drought-linked hardship could be a trigger for sorcery accusation-related violence as El Niño conditions intensify.

Energy & Investment: TotalEnergies says it will lift fourth-quarter share buybacks to $2.5bn, raise dividends by more than 5% annually through 2030, and expects oil and gas output growth of 2–3% a year to 2030–35, with projects including Papua New Guinea. Labour Mobility: PNG’s PALM scheme keeps expanding, with 2,700+ workers in Australia (to July 2026) and estimated K236m remitted to families and communities between 2022 and 2025. Infrastructure & Jobs: Australia-PNG Defence cooperation is upgrading Moem Barracks in Wewak with new water and sewer systems, creating local jobs and training. Cocoa Industry Push: PNG generated over K1.8bn in cocoa export revenue in 2025 and targets K2bn, while a 2026–2035 cocoa plan aims to unlock downstream processing and up to one million jobs. Bougainville Value-Add: The Bougainville Chocolate Festival closed with calls to move beyond raw bean exports into local chocolate and cocoa powder production. Forestry Enforcement: Regional lawmakers and PNG leaders at the Asia Pacific Forests Crime Network urged tougher action against illegal logging networks, citing major gaps in PNG log export tracking. Tourism & Culture: PNG showcased traditional performances at the Hong Kong Travel Expo, with Air Niugini and the tourism authority promoting culture and eco-tourism. Construction Skills: Madang’s Northern Coastal Highway repairs are boosting local employment and women’s participation, with safety and environmental training built in. Media & Industry Skills: Westpac Pacific launched its Future Banker program for emerging banking staff in Fiji and PNG.

Cocoa Jobs Push: PNG’s Cocoa Board is driving a 10-year Cocoa Industry Strategic Plan (2026–2035) aimed at unlocking cocoa, coffee, palm oil and copra value, with a target of up to one million jobs through downstream processing and modern value chains. Bougainville “Farm-to-Bar”: The 10th Bougainville Chocolate Festival closed with a push for farmers, youth and SMEs to build a local farm-to-bar industry beyond exporting raw beans. Mining Deal: Lingbao Gold Group has agreed to buy St Barbara’s remaining interest in Tabar Islands Holdings, moving toward full ownership of New Simberi; completion is targeted for March 2027. Construction Skills & Women: Madang’s Northern Coastal Highway repairs (41.2km) are creating local jobs and boosting women’s participation, with safety and environmental training for contractors. Consumer Protection & Competition: PNG’s draft Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2026 is set to modernise fair trading and strengthen enforcement as e-commerce grows. Maritime Safety Call: World Maritime Day in PNG urged the sector to turn policy and international standards into practical safety, skills and implementation. High Seas Treaty: PNG has ratified the High Seas Treaty, adding to momentum for biodiversity protection beyond national waters. Climate Pressure at UNGA: Marape and Solomon Islands leaders demanded real emissions cuts as sea-level rise hits now, not later.

Digital Inclusion: DWU president Fr Philip Gibbs says digital transformation must not widen the gap between connected and left-behind communities, urging AI graduates to know when to use tech responsibly and keep human judgement central. Construction Jobs & Gender: Madang’s 41.2km Northern Coastal Highway repairs (PGK10m, PNG-Australia Partnership) are creating local employment and training via health, safety and environmental safeguards, with women making up over 20% of the workforce. PNG Media Leadership: PINA elects PNG’s Neville Choi as president, with Solomon Islands journalist Elizabeth Osifelo as vice-president—both flagging fact-checking, verification and stronger regional cooperation. Maritime Safety Push: World Maritime Day in PNG called for turning maritime policy and international standards into practical action, with better skills and safety enforcement. Competition & Consumer Protection: ICCC is consulting on a Draft Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2026 to close gaps in fair trading and strengthen enforcement for PNG’s growing e-commerce market. Mining Deal: Lingbao Gold to take full ownership of the New Simberi operation after agreeing to buy St Barbara’s remaining interest, with completion targeted for March 2027. Climate Pressure: Marape and Wale used UNGA to demand real emissions cuts, warning sea-level rise is already hitting PNG and the Pacific.

Maritime & Shipping Safety: PNG’s maritime industry was urged to move from policy to practice on World Maritime Day, with regulators, ports, shipping operators and service providers calling for stronger safety, skills and enforcement. Mining & Land Rights: Oro Governor Garry Juffa warned PNG and Solomon Islands that outdated colonial resource laws risk handing control of resources to foreign “criminal cartels,” arguing customary landowners are effectively reduced to surface rights. Gold Deal in PNG: Chinese Lingbao Gold agreed to buy St Barbara’s remaining interest in Tabar Islands Holdings, moving toward full ownership of the New Simberi operation; completion is targeted for March 2027. Consumer Protection & Competition: ICCC’s draft Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2026 aims to close gaps in fair trading and consumer safeguards as PNG’s digital and e-commerce sector grows. Climate Action Push: PNG and Solomon Islands leaders at UNGA demanded industrial nations cut emissions now, warning sea-level rise is already damaging development. Banking Skills for PNG: Westpac Pacific launched its Future Banker program for emerging banking professionals in Fiji and PNG, focusing on practical customer and stakeholder skills. Agriculture Research Focus: PNG’s agriculture secretary says research must deliver measurable results for farmers, including better productivity, value-adding and reduced post-harvest losses. Media Industry Leadership: MCPNG president Neville Choi was elected PINA president, with priorities including fact-checking, verification and stronger regional cooperation.

Maritime security risk: PNG remains “exposed” to Middle East conflict, with former military strategists warning the Lombrum Naval Base in Manus keeps the country in the firing line and urging Government to take a neutral stance. Climate action pressure: PNG and Solomon Islands leaders used UNGA to demand real emissions cuts, calling out “empty promises” on sea-level rise and pushing for faster, grant-scale climate finance. Resource law fight: Oro Governor Garry Juffa warned PNG and SI that outdated colonial resource laws let foreign “criminal cartels” capture land and resources, arguing for reforms that empower customary landowners. Maritime industry push: World Maritime Day in PNG urged the sector to move from policy to practice on safety, skills and implementation. Consumer protection & competition: PNG’s draft Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2026 targets gaps in fair trading and consumer safeguards as digital commerce grows. Media industry leadership: Media Council PNG president Neville Choi elected PINA president, prioritising fact-checking, verification and regional cooperation. Banking skills: Westpac Pacific launched its Future Banker program in Fiji and PNG to build emerging banking talent. Mining deal: Lingbao Gold agreed to buy St Barbara’s remaining interest to take full ownership of New Simberi expansion plans. Agriculture research mandate: PNG urged research to deliver measurable results for farmers, tackling productivity, post-harvest losses and value-adding.

Climate Action Pressure: PNG and Solomon Islands leaders used UNGA to demand real emissions cuts, calling out “empty promises” as sea-level rise hits now, not later. Banking Skills for Growth: Westpac Pacific launched its six-month “Future Banker” program for emerging banking professionals in Fiji and Papua New Guinea, aiming to speed up customer-ready capability. Resource Law Reform: Oro Governor Garry Juffa warned PNG and the Solomon Islands that outdated colonial resource laws could hand local wealth to foreign “criminal cartels,” urging reforms that empower landowners. Maritime Safety Push: PNG’s maritime sector was urged to move from policy to practice on safety, skills and standards during World Maritime Day events. Mining Deal in PNG: Lingbao Gold agreed to buy St Barbara’s remaining interest to take full ownership of the New Simberi operation and exploration interests in PNG’s Tabar Islands, with completion targeted for March 2027. Consumer & Competition Rules: PNG’s draft Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2026 aims to close gaps around fair trading and consumer protection as digital commerce grows. Media Industry Leadership: Neville Choi was elected PINA president, with priorities including fact-checking, verification and stronger regional cooperation. Agriculture Research for Farmers: PNG’s agriculture research chief said research must deliver measurable results for farmers, cut post-harvest losses and help add value locally. Digital & AI Partnerships: Australia and PNG discussed safe, secure and inclusive AI adoption, while China highlighted ongoing training and STEM support for PNG officials and students.

Resource governance: Oro Governor Garry Juffa warned PNG and Solomon Islands that outdated colonial resource laws let the State control what lies beneath customary land, leaving landowners exposed to foreign “criminal cartels” unless reforms restore economic independence. Maritime industry: PNG’s maritime sector was urged to move “from policy to practice” on safety, skills and enforcement, with Niugini Pilots calling for real implementation across regulators, ports and shipping operators. Consumer protection & competition: ICCC is pushing a Draft Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2026 to close gaps on fair trading, misleading conduct and pricing conduct as PNG’s digital economy grows. Media sector: PNG secured the 2028 Pacific Media Summit bid, while new PINA leadership (Neville Choi as president; Lisa Osifelo as vice-president) set priorities on fact-checking, verification and tailored support for smaller island outlets. Mining: Lingbao Gold agreed to buy St Barbara’s remaining Tabar Islands stake, moving toward full ownership of New Simberi and backing expansion plans. Banking skills: Westpac Pacific launched its six-month “Future Banker” programme for Fiji and PNG to build local banking capability. Agriculture research: PNG’s agriculture chief urged research to deliver practical results for farmers, cut post-harvest losses and add value locally. Digital economy: NICTA highlighted how Ok Tedi Mining’s ArcSAR Neo radar use improves safer operations and decision-making in remote conditions. Health: Measles is resurging in the region, with renewed focus on closing vaccine coverage gaps. Climate action: Marape and Wale demanded industrial nations cut emissions now, warning sea-level rise is already a present-day crisis.

AI & Cyber Governance: Australia is working with Papua New Guinea and Indo-Pacific partners to support safe, secure and inclusive AI adoption, with officials and industry discussing practical use cases and partnerships. Climate Action Pressure: PNG and Solomon Islands leaders used the UN to demand industrial nations cut carbon emissions, warning sea-level rise is already here. Resilience & Indigenous Knowledge: A USP seminar on rural and urban adaptation stressed that resilience depends on governance, livelihoods and Indigenous knowledge—not just technical fixes—drawing on research from Morobe’s agriculture, conservation and gold mining areas. Farmers First Research: PNG’s agriculture research chief Dr Sergei Bang urged a shift from knowledge generation to results for farmers, linking research to productivity, value-adding and reduced post-harvest losses. Digital Skills for Industry: NICTA highlighted how Ok Tedi Mining uses ArcSAR Neo radar for safer, more reliable monitoring in remote areas, while NARI training pushed researchers to use R and RStudio for better experimental design and data analysis. Media Sector Labour: PNG’s Department of Labour outlined how a national press or media workers’ union could be formed under existing industrial laws. Mining & Resources: Tolu Minerals doubled reported gold resources to 1.33Moz with a maiden Mt Penck estimate, while Tolu’s Tolukuma drilling targets a return to gold production in early 2027. Energy Projects Watch: TotalEnergies says PNG LNG’s Papua LNG project is advancing toward FID milestones, including a planned operator handover to ExxonMobil and a marketing venture with Kumul Petroleum. Bilateral Infrastructure: Japan and PNG formalised grants for landslide risk reduction on the Kokopo-Rabaul Coastal Trunk Road and scholarships for PNG public servants.

India-Pacific diplomacy: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired the second FIPIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York, with PNG and other Pacific states aligning on renewable energy, climate action, disaster resilience, education, healthcare and capacity building. Media labour and AI: PNG’s Department of Labour discussed setting up a National Press/Media Workers’ Union, while the Media Council proposed an AI fact-checker for the industry. Digital skills for industry: NICTA urged businesses to use emerging tech for productivity and safer operations, pointing to Ok Tedi’s ArcSAR Neo radar use for geotechnical risk monitoring. Mining pipeline: Tolu Minerals doubled PNG gold resources to 1.33Moz after a maiden Mt Penck estimate; South Pacific Metals closed a C$20m private placement for exploration. Infrastructure and capability: Japan and PNG signed grants for landslide-risk works on the Kokopo-Rabaul Coastal Trunk Road and scholarships for public servants. Security and compliance: Immigration Minister William Bando warned foreigners after police rescued 39 Indonesians in an alleged trafficking operation. Space ambition: PNG moves toward space-industry involvement via an MoU with India’s Space Industry Association.

Foreign Policy & Governance: Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese says the post–WWII world order is “no longer fit for purpose,” arguing new partnerships and alliances are still crucial as US–China competition reshapes the region. Mining & Capital Markets: Tolu Minerals more than doubles PNG gold resources to 1.33Moz after a maiden Mt Penck estimate; South Pacific Metals closes a C$20m private placement to fund exploration around its Osena gold-copper ground. Infrastructure & Development: Japan signs PNG grants for landslide-risk reduction on the Kokopo–Rabaul Coastal Trunk Road and scholarships for PNG public servants. Energy & Industry: PNG LNG tops 100 million tonnes safely produced since 2014, reinforcing the country’s LNG export backbone. Finance & Skills: Westpac Pacific launches a Future Banker program for emerging banking professionals in Fiji and PNG. Tech & Partnerships: India opens a path for PNG involvement in the space industry via a cooperation MoU, while Australia and PNG discuss safe, inclusive AI adoption. Safety & Logistics: Another boat tragedy hits PNG waters—one dead and four missing after a capsized banana boat near Pigeon Island. Local Business & Jobs: Adyton begins trading on PNGX, giving local investors access to its Feni gold-copper project. Community & Environment: A legally binding conservation deed signed by 266 Indigenous clan leaders protects 125,000 hectares and tree kangaroos in the Torricelli Mountains.

LNG & Energy Security: PNG LNG has safely surpassed 100 million tonnes of LNG since 2014, with ExxonMobil PNG highlighting jobs, training and community investment as output runs above nameplate. Mining & Community Impact: Ramu NiCo marked two decades around its Madang operations, citing employment, skills training and support for schools, health, agriculture, roads and water. Capital Markets: South Pacific Metals closed a C$20.0m marketed equity offering, issuing 24.1m units at C$0.83 with 24-month warrants. Local Industry & Manufacturing: Kido landowner Morea Onno invested in Pacific Lime & Cement as PNG’s first integrated lime and cement project advances. New Listings: Adyton Resources began trading on PNGX (ADY), giving local investors access to its Feni Island gold-copper and Fergusson Island prospects. AI & Media Skills: Australia, PNG and partners discussed safe, inclusive AI adoption, while PNG’s broadcaster joined a China media visit focused on tech and innovation. Governance & Rights: PNG’s Supreme Court upheld an order to release Solwara 1 deep-sea mining documents, and 266 Indigenous leaders signed a conservation deed protecting rainforest and tree kangaroos. Safety & Transport: A new PNG boat tragedy left one dead and four missing after a capsized banana boat near Pigeon Island. Education & Skills: India’s High Commissioner backed Study in India fairs for PNG students, pointing to engineering, IT, business, health and agriculture pathways. Bougainville Process: Bougainville independence ratification in PNG parliament is expected to take longer, with lawmakers urged to keep dialogue going.