Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has welcomed Papua New Guinea’s historic direct export of live fish to Hong Kong as a major breakthrough in the country’s push to expand agricultural and fisheries exports into Asia- Pacific markets.

The milestone flight by Air Niugini, which transported four tonnes of live fish from Port Moresby to Hong Kong on Tuesday, 25 June 2025, marks the first time PNG has completed a direct air cargo shipment of this nature. The Prime Minister described the achievement as a powerful demonstration of the country’s growing capacity to trade high-value fresh products internationally.

“This is a moment of national pride and a clear sign of what our country is capable of achieving when government policy, industry innovation, and strategic diplomacy align,” Prime Minister Marape said. “I commend Air Niugini, our exporters, and all partners involved in this successful delivery. These are the kinds of ventures that reflect our long-term economic vision.”

Transforming Trade Through Policy and Partnership

Prime Minister Marape noted that the direct live fish export — which required strict regulation of oxygen, temperature, and water quality — was made possible by targeted policy reforms and deliberate engagement with overseas markets. “This is precisely why we signed the Phytosanitary Agreement with the Government of China and why we amended outdated legislation like the pre-Independence NAQIA Act, replacing it with the modern Biosecurity and Inspection Authority Act (BIA Act). These reforms have created a stronger regulatory foundation to support safe, standards-based exports of food and fisheries products.

He also commended the leadership of Fisheries Minister Hon. Jelta Wong for working closely with industry and government partners to drive the export agenda forward in the fisheries sector.

The Prime Minister acknowledged Air Niugini and other local companies leading the way in fresh and frozen food exports. He noted that Papua New Guinea is already exporting seafood products, including fish, crabs, and salted seafood to Singapore — a trade pipeline he is actively strengthening through bilateral talks.

“I recently met with the Prime Minister of Singapore during the Pacific Islands Forum in Samoa, and we discussed expanding PNG’s food exports into the Singaporean market. This builds on my earlier visits and signals growing trust in the quality and reliability of Papua New Guinea’s produce,” said PM Marape.

The Future Lies in Renewable Sectors

While reaffirming the government’s continued support for the oil, gas, and mining sectors, Prime Minister Marape stressed that PNG’s long-term economic resilience lies in the renewable resource sectors — especially agriculture, fisheries, and sustainable forestry.

“Since 2019, our government has been focused on turning these sectors into the backbone of our economy,” he said. “The more we grow and catch from our land and sea, the more value we can export, the more foreign currency we earn, and the more jobs and income we create here at home.”

To support this goal, the government has introduced freight subsidies, price support mechanisms, state equity participation for agribusinesses, and small-to-medium enterprise (SME) lending facilities in partnership with commercial banks.

“I urge all districts and provinces to incubate and support local entrepreneurs — especially our farmers and fishers — to produce more for export,” PM Marape said. “We are living in an unprecedented time. In 2025, domestic and international markets are linked like never before, and we must seize this opportunity to grow our economy from within.”

A Nation Ready to Lead in Asia-Pacific Trade

Prime Minister Marape said that with PNG’s growing connectivity to major markets — including China, Singapore, and the broader Asian region — the country.” is well-positioned to lead in sustainable food and fisheries exports.

“This is what the Marape-Rosso Government has been working toward: building the infrastructure, passing the laws, creating the trade relationships, and empowering our people to take their place in the global economy,” the Prime Minister said.

“We are not just exporting products — we are exporting the hard work of our people, the quality of our resources, and the story of a resilient, resourceful, and forward-looking Papua New Guinea.”

He also confirmed that the Government is working closely with the Bank of Papua New Guinea to enable convertibility between the Papua New Guinea kina and the Chinese yuan. This will make trade transactions with China more efficient and affordable for exporters and importers,  and is part of the Government’s broader strategy to facilitate seamless economic exchange across the Asia-Pacific region.