The Department of Works and Highways Secretary, Gibson Holemba, has called for stronger collaboration, innovation and capacity building within Papua New Guinea’s construction industry at the opening of the Inaugural Construction and Contractors Conference 2026.
Speaking at the event today in Port Moresby city, Holemba acknowledged the support of development partners, including the Australian High Commission, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), JICA and other stakeholders, as well as local contractors, engineers and suppliers participating in the conference.
He stressed that infrastructure development, particularly road construction, is a shared national responsibility involving government, private sector players and technical professionals.
“Building roads is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a collective national effort,” Holemba said.
The Secretary highlighted the significance of the 1995 National Executive Council (NEC) Decision 4195, which shifted road maintenance responsibilities from government to private contractors, laying the foundation for today’s local contracting industry.
He said the conference, themed “Building the Nation through Innovation, Collaboration, and Sustainable Infrastructure,” aims to drive long-term transformation in the sector, focusing on research, practical solutions and industry-led innovation.
Holemba also outlined ongoing institutional reforms under the department’s “Reform and Transformation Initiative,” which seeks to modernize infrastructure delivery over the next 50 years through:
- Policy reform and evidence-based decision-making
- Investment in human capital and workforce development
- Improved business processes and infrastructure systems
A key concern raised was the lack of capacity among local contractors, particularly in handling large-scale projects and future maintenance of the country’s expanding road network.
“We are building thousands of kilometres of roads, but the challenge is whether we have enough capable local contractors to maintain them in the future,” he said.
He urged contractors to invest in training, including climate-resilient construction and modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, noting that many firms lack qualified design engineers for complex projects.
Holemba also highlighted the need for fair competition between local and international contractors, pointing out that global companies often have stronger financial backing, making it difficult for local firms to compete equally.
To address this, the government is working on a contractor classification system to ensure companies bid for projects aligned with their capacity, while also supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The conference will now become an annual event, with future sessions expected to feature technical presentations from contractors showcasing solutions to real industry challenges.
Holemba encouraged participants to use the platform to share ideas and move away from simply highlighting problems.
“We don’t want to sit down and complain. We want to be creative and provide solutions,” he said.
The initiative aligns with national development frameworks, including Vision 2050 and key transport and infrastructure strategies, aimed at strengthening Papua New Guinea’s construction sector for sustainable growth.
