Prime Minister Hon. James Marape will officially launch the Papua New Guinea–Indonesia Business Council Inc. on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, at the State Function Room of the National Parliament, marking a historic milestone in strengthening economic ties between the two neighbouring countries.
The initiative, spearheaded by Minister for International Trade and Investment Hon. Richard Maru represents a strategic shift in PNG’s bilateral engagement with Indonesia — transitioning from decades of border-focused discussions to structured commercial cooperation and private sector-led investment.
“Indonesia is our closest neighbour by land, yet for far too long, we have allowed trade and investment opportunities to go untapped,” said Prime Minister Marape. “I fully support the establishment of this Business Council as the next logical step in deepening our bilateral relationship with one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies.”
The Prime Minister noted that Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia and fourth most populous nation globally, has achieved significant progress in downstream processing, mining, energy, and industrialisation—sectors in which Papua New Guinea has enormous potential but limited domestic investment.
“Indonesia’s success in leveraging its resources for national development is something we must learn from. PNG has abundant resources in mining, petroleum, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. We welcome Indonesian companies to partner with us in building a modern, diversified, and inclusive economy,” Prime Minister Marape said.
The PNG–Indonesia Business Council will serve as a key platform for linking PNG businesses with Indonesian counterparts, promoting joint ventures, and facilitating the inflow of Indonesian foreign direct investment (FDI) into strategic sectors of PNG’s economy. The Government anticipates the first major investment—valued at K1.5 billion—to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Prime Minister Marape thanked the leadership of former and current Presidents of Indonesia, as well as successive PNG Governments, for laying the foundation for this new chapter in bilateral cooperation.
“As we mark 50 years of independence, this Business Council is a symbol of a forward- looking PNG—confident, open to partnerships, and committed to economic transformation,” he said.