Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hailed the relationship between his country and Papua New Guinea (PNG), describing it as a reflection of true mates, equals and allies.
PM Albanese made this remark during his landmark address at the PNG Investment Week 2025 Leaders’ Summit in Sydney, Australia, when describing Australia’s deep friendship and growing economic partnership with PNG.
Speaking before business leaders, government officials and international investors, PM Albanese highlighted the unprecedented closeness between the two national leaders and their governments — noting that no pair of Australian and PNG prime ministers have met more frequently than himself and Prime Minister James Marape.
“That represents progress — progress that is in the interests of Australia, but also very much in the interests of Papua New Guinea,” PM Albanese said, extending a warm welcome to delegates from across the Pacific and around the world.
PM Albanese unveiled the scale of growing trade ties, pointing to a record $8.1 billion in two-way goods trade in 2024–25. He celebrated the expansion of PNG agricultural exports— including coffee, cocoa and vanilla — backed by strengthened biosecurity and infrastructure links.
He also emphasized that the new security alliance — only Australia’s third in history — recognizes that Pacific security must be led from within the Pacific family.
“Australian markets are hungry for PNG’s exceptional produce,” he noted.
Key economic initiatives highlighted include:
- Upgrading 47km of the Wau Highway in Morobe to support rural
commerce
- Joint redevelopment of the Kokoda Highway to honour shared history
while unlocking new economic routes
- More than $600 million to upgrade five major ports across PNG,
improving sea trade for a nation of 600 islands
- Continued investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and agriculture.
“These projects ensure the benefits of development flow straight back into PNG, strengthening its status as an essential economic partner in the Pacific,” PM Albanese said.
The Australian leader also praised initiatives building PNG’s skills, education pathways, health services, digital infrastructure and renewable energy systems, calling human capital “PNG’s greatest resource”.
He also celebrated the progress toward a PNG NRL franchise — the PNG Chiefs — saying elite sports investment would unlock massive benefits in tourism, infrastructure and youth development.
“When young Papua New Guineans see a pathway into the NRL — they are encouraged to stay in school, to train, to pursue big dreams,” he said.
PM Albanese then welcomed the announcement that direct Qantas flights between Sydney and Port Moresby will resume in March 2026, boosting tourism, business travel and family connections.
“At the end of the day, business-to-business relations are important, government to-government relations are important — but nothing beats people-to-people,” he said.
