AGP Executive Report

Regional Connections: Air Niugini is supporting travel for Papua New Guinean and Solomon Islands artists to Vanuatu’s inaugural Wan Pasifika Festival, promoting culture and climate action. Fiji on Show: The three-day Fiji Trade & Tourism Expo is under way at Port Moresby’s Vision City, with tourism offerings, Fijian products, cuisine and performances on display. Adventure Travel: American cyclist Henry Hall has crossed parts of PNG by bicycle, boat and ship, exploring New Ireland, East New Britain, the Highlands and Madang before heading for Vanimo and Indonesia. Fishing Tourism: Lae is preparing to host the 2027 PNG National Titles, with more than 400 anglers expected; a new app will help participants follow the competition and record catches. Access Upgrade: Hoskins Airport’s runway extension has reached 78 per cent completion, with the runway extended to 1,580 metres.

Slow Travel: American cyclist Henry Hall is touring Papua New Guinea by bicycle, boat and road. After riding through New Ireland, East New Britain and Madang, he plans to continue to Vanimo and then Indonesia. Regional Tourism: Fiji businesses, including Fiji Airways and Tourism Fiji, are showcasing trade and travel opportunities at a three-day expo in Port Moresby. Organisers say direct flights between PNG and Fiji can help connect businesses and visitors. Fishing Tourism: Lae is preparing to host the 50th PNG National Game Fishing Titles on March 20–28, 2027, with more than 400 anglers expected. A new app will share competition information and results, while Trukai has renewed its tournament sponsorship for four years.

Police Housing: Police in Port Moresby have secured 100 allotments at Duran Farm under a MoA with the National Housing Corporation, shifting officers from temporary stays to home ownership mortgages. Tourism & Trade: Fiji’s Trade and Tourism Expo is in full swing in Port Moresby, with Fijian SMEs and partners showcasing products and tourism links to PNG buyers. Travel Stories: An American cyclist is touring PNG by road and boat, pedalling from New Ireland and East New Britain to Kokopo, Rabaul, Lae, and Madang before heading to Vanimo and Indonesia. Sports Tourism: PNG game fishing is going digital with Angler Hub ahead of the 50th GFA National Titles in Lae next March, while Trukai renews sponsorship for the national tournament. Health & Access: A new ultrasound scanner and maternal equipment have arrived in Eastern Highlands to strengthen early diagnosis and reduce travel for expectant mothers. Climate Support: PNG will fund Tuvalu’s land reclamation with PGK25 million over five years as sea-level impacts worsen. Safety & Sport Integrity: PNGKBF raises alarm over two fighters competing in an unauthorised Muaythai event in New Zealand without federation approval. Adventure & Events: Cruise Month 2026 is underway, highlighting Australia’s summer cruise push and new itineraries.

Rugby League World Cup Squads: Kalyn Ponga and Stacey Waaka headline the Kiwi and Kiwi Ferns World Cup squads, with Ponga named among four Kiwis debutants after a grand-final charge. Sports Tourism: PNG’s game fishing is getting more digital—Lae’s Angler Hub platform is set for the 50th GFA National Titles in March, while Trukai renews K50,000 sponsorship for the national tournament. Education & Travel Disruption Planning: The Education Department expects to pay schools the remaining K226m of free tuition funding using a new electronic system, and a reminder for schools: simple rain plans can reduce confusion when heavy weather disrupts travel. Health for Remote Communities: A new ultrasound scanner and maternal equipment have arrived in Eastern Highlands to improve early diagnosis and reduce the need for expectant mothers to travel for care. Climate & Pacific Pre-COP31: PNG Prime Minister James Marape commits PGK25m to Tuvalu land reclamation as leaders visit Tuvalu ahead of Pre-COP31, while PM Matthew Wale pushes for stronger climate finance in Fiji ahead of COP31. Security Ties: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin meets PNG leaders in Port Moresby to discuss boosting military capability and deepening security cooperation.

School Safety & Funding: PNG’s Education Department says the remaining K226 million of this year’s K904m tuition fee-free funding is being processed for payment into schools’ bank accounts, using a new electronic funds transfer system to speed up and track payments. Game Fishing Goes Digital: Lae is set for a big tech upgrade in sport fishing, with the PNG Game Fishing Association launching Angler Hub to record catches and share competition results ahead of the 50th GFA National Titles in March. Tourism & Trade Expo: The Fiji Trade and Tourism Expo in Port Moresby is set to spotlight SMEs, with direct flights between PNG and Fiji boosting business and market-entry links. Climate Support for Tuvalu: PNG will provide PGK25m over five years to help Tuvalu with land reclamation as sea levels rise, announced during Pre-COP31 leaders’ talks. Maternal Care Upgrade: Eastern Highlands’ ANC Kama Clinic in Goroka received a new ultrasound scanner and equipment to improve early diagnosis and referrals, supported by partners including Rotary and MOFA Foundation. Security Ties: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin met PNG leaders in Port Moresby to discuss strengthening military capability and implementing the defence cooperation agreement. Sports Tourism Angle: Trukai renewed sponsorship of the PNG Game Fishing Association with K50,000 for the National Game Fishing Tournament in Lae.

Pre-COP31 Climate Push: PNG PM Matthew Wale joins Pacific and partner leaders in Fiji for Pre-COP31 talks, urging stronger climate finance and that Pacific priorities are reflected ahead of COP31 in Turkey. Maternal Care Upgrade (Eastern Highlands): A new ultrasound scanner and diagnostic equipment have arrived at ANC Kama Clinic in Goroka to strengthen early detection, monitoring, and referrals for expectant mothers. Aviation Lifeline (Morobe): Manolos Aviation highlights the ongoing need for medical evacuations in remote PNG, after a case from Onga-Waffa where a mother was flown to Lae for further treatment. Tourism & Business Spotlight (PNG): PNG CORE launched PNG Investment Week 2026 in Sydney (29 Nov–2 Dec) to showcase PNG’s investment opportunities and drive new deals. Air Travel Infrastructure (West New Britain): Hoskins Airport upgrade is 78% complete, with runway length extended to 1,580m to support larger aircraft. Sports Tourism (Lae): Trukai renewed sponsorship of the PNG Game Fishing Association with K50,000 for the National Game Fishing Tournament in Lae. Sports & Community: PNG’s PM’s XIII and women’s PM’s XIII matches against Australia delivered big results in Port Moresby, underscoring growing local rugby league momentum.

Tourism Promotion: Papua New Guinea is showcasing its cultural, natural and adventure attractions at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini highlighting four weekly direct flights from Port Moresby to Hong Kong to boost visitor access. Sports Tourism: Trukai has renewed sponsorship of the PNG Game Fishing Association, pledging K50,000 toward the National Game Fishing Tournament in Lae and backing the event for another four years. Aviation & Access: Hoskins Airport Upgrade is 78% complete, with the runway extended to 1,580 metres to support larger aircraft, improving safety and reliability for regional travel. Community & Skills: IHG PNG signed an MoU with Caritas Technical Secondary School to build hospitality training pathways for young Papua New Guineans. Local Services: Lae City Authority launched ServiceLink with NiuPay, letting residents pay land taxes online and reducing the need to visit municipal offices. Governance Push: Opposition Leader James Nomane renewed calls to end “PNG Time” and improve accountability and efficiency across government services.

Tourism Promotion: Papua New Guinea is showcasing its culture, nature and adventure at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini highlighting its four weekly direct flights between Port Moresby and Hong Kong as a key link for Asian visitors. Aviation & Access: Hoskins Airport Upgrade in West New Britain is now 78% complete, with the runway extended to 1,580 metres to support larger aircraft, aiming for a late-2026 finish. Sports Tourism Sponsorship: Trukai has renewed sponsorship of the PNG Game Fishing Association for four more years, backing the Lae-based tournament and promoting PNG’s waters to visiting anglers. Remote Travel Support: Australia is partnering with Samaritan Aviation to keep seaplanes flying to isolated communities in East Sepik and Gulf, improving access to emergency medical care and supplies. Local Digital Services: Lae City Authority has launched online land tax payments via ServiceLink with NiuPay, helping residents pay remotely instead of queuing at municipal offices. Rugby League Spotlight: Australia’s PM’s XIII thrashed PNG’s PM’s XIII 60-10 in Port Moresby, with Ezra Mam starring for the visitors.

Tourism Promotion: Papua New Guinea is showcasing its cultural, natural and adventure attractions at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini highlighting four weekly direct flights between Port Moresby and Hong Kong to boost visitor links. Airport Upgrade: Hoskins Airport’s upgrade is 78% complete, with the runway extended to 1,580 metres to support larger aircraft, aiming for late-2026 completion. Remote Health Access: Australia has partnered with Samaritan Aviation to keep seaplanes flying for emergency medical care and supplies in remote East Sepik and Gulf communities. Hospitality Jobs Pathways: IHG PNG signed an MoU with Caritas Technical Secondary School to train and create career pathways for young Papua New Guineans in hospitality. Local Services Online: Lae City Authority launched ServiceLink with NiuPay so residents can pay land taxes online instead of queuing at municipal offices. Sports Tourism Boost: Trukai renewed sponsorship of the PNG Game Fishing Association for four years, backing the Lae-based national titles. Governance Call: Opposition Leader James Nomane renewed calls to end “PNG Time” and push accountability and efficiency across government services.

Tourism Promotion: PNG is showcasing its cultural, natural and adventure attractions at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini highlighting four weekly direct flights from Port Moresby to Hong Kong to boost visitor access. Sports Tourism: Trukai has renewed sponsorship of the PNG Game Fishing Association for four more years, backing the Lae-based tournament and promoting PNG’s waters to anglers and overseas visitors. Infrastructure & Air Travel: Hoskins Airport upgrade is 78% complete, with the runway extended to 1,580 metres to support larger aircraft and improve safety and reliability for regional flights. Remote Access to Care: Australia is partnering with Samaritan Aviation to keep seaplanes flying for emergency medical flights and supplies to remote East Sepik and Gulf communities. Local Travel Convenience: Lae City Authority has launched an online land tax payment portal (ServiceLink) with NiuPay, reducing the need for trips to municipal offices. Community & Skills: IHG PNG has signed an MoU with Caritas to train young Papua New Guineans for hospitality careers, building local talent for the tourism workforce.

Women’s Rugby League: Australia crushed PNG 66-6 in Port Moresby’s Women’s Prime Minister’s XIII, with Jada Taylor scoring three tries in a World Cup-style audition. Travel & Tourism Promotion: PNG showcased cultural, natural and adventure tourism at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini highlighting direct Port Moresby–Hong Kong flights. Airport Upgrade: Hoskins Airport upgrade hit 78% completion, with the runway extended to 1,580 metres to support larger aircraft and safer regional services. Sports Tourism Sponsorship: Trukai renewed a four-year sponsorship of the PNG Game Fishing Association, backing the Lae-based national titles and promoting PNG’s waters. Remote Health Access: Australia partnered with Samaritan Aviation to keep seaplane routes running for emergency medical flights and supplies in East Sepik and Gulf. Local Services for Travellers & Locals: Lae City Authority launched online land tax payments via ServiceLink, reducing the need to queue at municipal offices. Governance Call: Opposition Leader James Nomane urged PNG to end “PNG Time” and improve accountability and efficiency across government. Biometrics & IDs (Global, but relevant): Germany’s BSI opened submissions for background-removal tech benchmarks for facial images, while South Africa unveiled a smartphone-based digital ID prototype.

Airport & Infrastructure: Hoskins Airport upgrade hits 78% completion, with the runway extended to 1,580 metres to support larger aircraft, as NAC works toward a late-2026 finish. Tourism Promotion: PNG is showcasing cultural, natural and adventure attractions at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini highlighting direct Port Moresby–Hong Kong flights as a key link for visitors. Sports Tourism: Trukai renews a four-year sponsorship of the PNG Game Fishing Association, backing the Lae-based tournament and promoting PNG’s waters to anglers and travel-minded fans. Community & Access: Australia partners with Samaritan Aviation to keep remote PNG communities connected via seaplanes for emergency medical flights, supplies and disaster relief. Food Security: FPDA allocates K1 million for water-carting and irrigation support to help farmers respond to drought and protect crop seedlings. Digital Services: Lae City Authority launches online land tax payments through ServiceLink with NiuPay, aiming to reduce queues and cash handling. Culture & Language: A Hula language AI tool, Vavanagi, shows how local communities can use AI to document and preserve minority languages.

Tourism Promotion: PNG is showcasing its cultural, natural and adventure attractions at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini highlighting four weekly direct flights from Port Moresby to Hong Kong to boost visitor access. Sports Tourism & Sponsorship: Trukai Industries has renewed a four-year sponsorship of the Papua New Guinea Game Fishing Association, including K50,000 support for the Lae tournament and a push to market PNG’s waters. Aviation Upgrade: Hoskins Airport’s upgrade is 78% complete, with the runway extended to 1,580 metres to support larger aircraft, aiming for late-2026 completion. Remote Health Access: Australia has partnered with Samaritan Aviation to keep remote PNG communities connected via seaplanes for emergency medical flights, supplies and disaster relief. Hospitality Jobs Pipeline: IHG PNG has signed an MoU with Caritas to train young Papua New Guineans for practical career pathways in the hospitality industry. Digital Services in Lae: Lae City Authority launches ServiceLink with NiuPay, letting residents pay land taxes online and reducing the need to visit municipal offices. Diplomacy & Trade Links: PNG has established diplomatic relations with Montenegro, pointing to future cooperation in tourism, renewable energy, agriculture and digital innovation. Community Health: A cardiac screening clinic in Rabaul assessed 43 children, clearing 13 and flagging others for possible surgery discussions.

Airport & Air Travel Upgrade: Hoskins Airport Upgrade hits 78% completion in West New Britain, with the runway extended to 1,580 metres to handle larger aircraft, aiming for late-2026 delivery. Tourism Promotion: PNG is showcasing cultural, natural and adventure attractions at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini highlighting direct Port Moresby–Hong Kong flights and strong visitor interest. Hospitality Skills Pipeline: IHG PNG partners with Caritas to train young Papua New Guineans for hospitality careers, building local talent across its Port Moresby hotels. Remote Health Access: Australia backs Samaritan Aviation with seaplane support to speed emergency care and supplies to isolated communities in East Sepik and Gulf. Digital Services for Travellers & Locals: Lae City Authority launches ServiceLink with NiuPay, letting residents pay land taxes online to reduce office queues and cash handling. Sports Tourism: Trukai renews sponsorship of the Game Fishing Association PNG National Titles for four years, with the 50th event set for Lae next March. Community Safety: The National Airports Corporation condemns armed robbery at a contractor’s Finschhafen airstrip upgrade site, calling it an attack on workers and national progress.

Tourism Promotion: Papua New Guinea is showcasing its culture, nature and adventure at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini and the Tourism Promotion Authority highlighting direct Port Moresby–Hong Kong flights and a stand drawing strong visitor interest. Aviation & Remote Access: Australia backs Samaritan Aviation with support for seaplane emergency medical flights and supplies to isolated communities in East Sepik and Gulf. Hospitality Jobs & Training: IHG PNG partners with Caritas Technical Secondary School to create practical hospitality training and career pathways for young Papua New Guineans. Community Safety & Health: Bel isi PNG receives Australian congratulations for workplace action against family and sexual violence, while a major cardiac screening clinic in Rabaul assessed 43 children and flagged cases needing further discussion for surgery. Local Travel Convenience: Lae residents and businesses in Lae can now pay land taxes online via the Lae City Authority’s ServiceLink portal. Sports Tourism: Trukai renews sponsorship of the Game Fishing Association PNG National Titles, backing the 50th event in Lae next March.

Health & Access: Australia backs Samaritan Aviation with seaplanes to speed emergency care and supplies to remote East Sepik and Gulf communities, where hospital trips can take days. Hospitality Jobs: IHG PNG signs an MoU with Caritas Technical Secondary School to train and create career pathways for young Papua New Guineans in the hospitality industry. Workplace Safety: Bel isi PNG, supported by Australia, runs a UN International Day of Peace Leadership Forum pushing practical action against family and sexual violence in workplaces. Tourism & Culture: PNG UNRE hosts World Tourism Day and Cultural Show 2026, spotlighting tourism and culture with a focus on AI and digital innovation. City Services: Lae City Authority launches ServiceLink with NiuPay so residents can pay land taxes online, reducing cash handling and office queues. Sports Tourism: Trukai renews sponsorship of the PNG Game Fishing Association National Titles with K50,000 annually for four years, with the 50th event in Lae next March. Diplomacy for Travel: PNG and Montenegro establish diplomatic ties, with tourism and investment among the priority areas for future cooperation. Community Health: A cardiac clinic in Rabaul screens 43 children under the Flying Doctors program, with some referred for possible surgery discussions. Cultural Spotlight Abroad: PNG takes centre stage at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo through Air Niugini and PNGTPA, featuring traditional performances and tourism promotions. Bougainville Cocoa: The Bougainville Chocolate Festival wraps up with a push for “farm-to-bar” value-adding to boost local incomes.