PNG economy expands as non-resource sectors take lead, PM says

 Papua New Guinea’s economy is showing steady expansion, driven largely by growth outside the mining and petroleum sectors, Prime Minister James Marape has told the nation.

Mr Marape said the country’s economic output has increased sharply over the past few years, pointing to stronger activity in agriculture, tourism, fisheries and forestry. He said this shift showed that more ordinary Papua New Guineans were now participating in economic growth.

Prime Minister James Marape

According to the Prime Minister, the value of the economy has risen from about K79 billion in 2019 to roughly K133 billion today. He said this improvement reflected broader business confidence and stronger domestic production across the country.

He said non-resource industries were growing at about four per cent, with farmers and small-scale producers becoming more active in commercial markets. Rural communities, he added, were now benefiting from better market access and export opportunities.

Mr Marape also outlined plans for major resource projects expected to progress in the coming years, including Papua LNG, P’nyang and Pasca. He said the Government was working to ensure clearer benefit-sharing arrangements while maintaining investor confidence.

The Prime Minister said access to international markets, including China, had opened doors for PNG’s agricultural and fisheries exports. “We’re not walking through work — we’re running and delivering for our people,” he said.