AGP Executive Report

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.

Diplomatic Boost for Tourism: Papua New Guinea has officially established diplomatic relations with Montenegro, with Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko saying the new ties could open doors in tourism, renewable energy, agriculture, food processing, SMEs, digital innovation and investment promotion. Game Fishing & Sports Tourism: Trukai Industries has renewed sponsorship of the Game Fishing Association PNG National Titles for four years, pledging K50,000 annually for the 50th titles in Lae (March 20–28, 2027), with organisers expecting 400+ anglers including overseas visitors. Lae Goes Digital for Land Taxes: The Lae City Authority launched ServiceLink with fintech partner NiuPay, letting residents and businesses pay land taxes online and avoid cash handling and long waits at municipal offices. Community Safety Through Sport: Former Wallabies captain Will Genia is backing rugby union clubs in Morobe as platforms to promote respect and help prevent family and sexual violence. PNG on the World Travel Stage: PNG culture and tourism promotion hit the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, featuring traditional performances and Air Niugini-led outreach to international visitors. Health & Travel for Families: A cardiac clinic in Rabaul screened 43 children, with some cases flagged for possible open-heart surgery discussions—highlighting the need for medical travel options when local treatment isn’t available.

Visa & Travel Rules: Australia’s Transit Without Visa (TWOV) list for 2026 names 70 eligible nationalities, with strict conditions like an onward flight within eight hours and no need to clear immigration. Tourism Promotion: PNG is showcasing its culture at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini and PNG Tourism Promotion Authority backing traditional performances and visitor interest in trekking, diving and eco-tourism. World Tourism Day: PNG UNRE opened World Tourism Day & Cultural Show 2026, highlighting AI and digital innovation in tourism. Health & Travel for Families: A cardiac screening clinic in Rabaul assessed 43 children, clearing 13 and flagging seven for possible open-heart surgery discussions, with overseas travel still often needed. Community & Culture: Bougainville’s 10th Chocolate Festival wrapped up in Buin, pushing a “farm-to-bar” push to build local cocoa value. Sports Travel: PNG Masters 40+ netball team is set for the PanPac in Gold Coast (Nov 6–15), with sponsorship sought for airfares, accommodation and registration. Safety at Sea: Three Bougainvilleans reported missing at sea for 70 days were found and taken to Kiribati. Infrastructure for Visitors: Madang’s Northern Coastal Highway repairs (41.2km) are creating local jobs and improving women’s participation in construction.

China-PNG Health Diplomacy: PNG’s Chinese Ambassador Yang Xiaoguang visited the 15th China Medical Team, praising their service and urging safety and good work-rest balance during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day. PNG Tourism Promotion Abroad: PNG culture and travel offerings hit the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Air Niugini and PNG Tourism Promotion Authority backing Rigo District dancers, kundu drumming, and activities like diving, trekking and eco-tourism. Health Access for Remote Communities: Katim Tasol Foundation spotlighted its rural healthcare “Lighthouse” model using telemedicine, infrastructure and ongoing training to bring second opinions closer to isolated PNG villages. Cardiac Screening in Rabaul: A Flying Doctors cardiac clinic screened 43 children at Nonga General Hospital—13 cleared and seven referred for possible open-heart surgery, with Tetralogy of Fallot noted as common locally. Bougainville Cocoa Push: The 10th Bougainville Chocolate Festival wrapped in Buin, calling for a “farm-to-bar” industry so farmers and SMEs can earn more from finished cocoa products. Road Works for Jobs & Women: Madang’s Northern Coastal Highway repairs delivered PGK10m in upgrades and training, with women making up over 20% of the workforce. Air Niugini Capacity Update: Air Niugini further cut Mt Hagen flight capacity, affecting travel planning for Highlands routes. Safety at Sea: Three men and a woman from Bougainville were found after 70 days missing at sea and transported to Kiribati. Tourism Day & Culture Show: PNG UNRE launched World Tourism Day and Cultural Show 2026, highlighting AI and digital innovation. Sports & Travel Culture: PNG Chiefs jersey plans advanced with a public release set for Oct 21, while Air Niugini and rugby league momentum keep drawing attention to PNG on the regional stage.

Tourism Promotion: Papua New Guinea showcased its culture at the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, with Rigo District dancers and kundu drumming drawing crowds at the PNG stand, while Air Niugini and PNG Tourism Promotion Authority pushed experiences from diving and trekking to island escapes and eco-tourism. World Tourism Day & Culture: PNG UNRE officially opened World Tourism Day and Cultural Show 2026, with Minister Belden Namah officiating. Community Health & Travel Links: A cardiac screening clinic in Rabaul assessed 43 children under the Flying Doctors’ National Cardiac Screening Program, with some referred for possible open-heart surgery—highlighting the need for medical travel options. Construction & Jobs: Madang’s Northern Coastal Highway repairs (41.2km) delivered jobs and training, with women making up over 20% of the workforce. Bougainville Cocoa: The Bougainville Cocoa Festival wrapped in Buin with a push for “farm-to-bar” value-adding locally. Safety at Sea: Three Bougainvilleans reported missing at sea for 70 days were found and taken to Kiribati. Sport & PNG’s Next Big Moment: The PNG Chiefs’ inaugural jersey is set for public viewing in Port Moresby on Oct 21, with Struddys as kit partner.

Bougainville Tourism & Food: The 10th Bougainville Chocolate Festival wrapped up in Buin on 25 September, with leaders urging a “farm-to-bar” push so cocoa farmers, youth and SMEs can earn more by making chocolate and other products locally. Sports Tourism: PNG Chiefs’ inaugural NRL jersey is set for public viewing in Port Moresby on Oct 21, with Struddys named as the official apparel and kit partner for the club’s first four seasons from 2028. Roads & Jobs: Madang’s Northern Coastal Highway repairs—41.2km between Airport Junction and Surumarang Bridge—are now complete, creating local jobs and boosting women’s participation in construction. World Tourism Day: PNG UNRE opened World Tourism Day & Cultural Show 2026, spotlighting AI and digital innovation in tourism. Community Safety: Warangoi in East New Britain commissioned new police duplexes to strengthen community policing and officer welfare. Health & Travel: Katim Tasol’s telemedicine model is expanding primary care support for remote PNG communities, helping patients get second opinions without long trips. Work & Mobility: Australia’s PALM scheme confirms PNG as eligible for Pacific work placements.