Prime Minister (PM) James Marape says he wants to restore the old Daru town in the Western province back to its glory days as one of the leading centers in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The prime minister, who was in Daru yesterday for the commissioning of the new National Fisheries Authority (NFA) Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Command Centre there, told the people that Daru sits at a strategically vital place that is beneficial for both Western province and the country as a whole.

PM Marape acknowledges the challenges in Daru and pledges to address and improve services like water supply, electricity and road conditions, stating that these issues are on the national agenda to attend to.

He noted that Daru sits at the heart of Western Province, a region with the largest landmass in PNG, rich natural resources, major river systems, and direct borders with both Australia and Indonesia.

“No other province carries this level of strategic importance,” he said. “What happens in Daru matters not only to Western Province, but to Papua New Guinea as a whole.”

Marape said Daru’s future development must align with its role as a gateway town — linking inland communities, coastal regions and international neighbours.

He pointed to opportunities for expanded trade, port development, aviation infrastructure and regional services, noting that Daru’s location gives it unmatched potential for growth if properly supported.

“With the right infrastructure and governance, Daru can once again become a hub — not only for Western Province, but for cross-border cooperation and economic activity,” he said.