Port Moresby, 24 November 2025
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has called on Papua New Guinea to fully embrace digital transformation, declaring that information and communications technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) will be the driving forces of the nation’s next 50 years of development, growth, and public-sector efficiency.
Opening the Digital Transformation Summit 2025 in Port Moresby, Prime Minister Marape welcomed participants from across the globe — including ICT leaders, academics, industry experts, software developers, hardware specialists, and international development partners. He said the Summit comes at a defining moment, as PNG transitions from its 50th independence anniversary into a new era of reform under the Reset PNG@50 agenda.
Welcoming Global Delegates
The Prime Minister extended a special welcome to international delegates and acknowledged the presence of Ministers of State, ICT Minister Hon. Peter Tsiamalil Jr, the Australian High Commissioner, heads of departments, and key stakeholders from government and industry.
“You are all welcome to the most diverse nation on planet Earth. We hold 67 percent of the world’s biodiversity — both marine and terrestrial — and over 800 languages, each with its own cultural structure. Fifty years ago, we stood on our own. Fifty years later, we remain one people, one nation, under one democratic constitution,” he said.
Marape underscored that PNG’s unity is anchored in the rule of law and Christian faith, which together sustain its extraordinary diversity. He noted that since 2019, the Government has deliberately prioritised ICT to foster transparency, efficiency, accountability, and equitable access to services.
ICT and AI as Transformational Drivers
The Prime Minister emphasised that AI presents a transformational opportunity for PNG:
“ICT will drive us into a merit-based society, an efficient workforce, and an accountable economy. Digital transformation is here to stay. The world is moving fast — we cannot afford to be left behind.”
He cited global leaders in digital transformation — including Estonia, Singapore, India, Vietnam, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Australia, South Korea, Japan, China, and the United States — and urged PNG to adopt the best global standards to leapfrog into the future.
“The beauty of PNG is that we are starting almost on a greenfield. We can pick the best systems the world offers — secure, efficient, transformative products — and bypass decades of trial and error,” he said.
Key Priorities for PNG’s Digital Future
Marape outlined the Government’s priorities:
- Digital national identity
- Digital payment systems
- Connectivity for SMEs
- Online learning access for students
- Remote market access for rural entrepreneurs
- ICT-driven transparency in government operations
He stressed that ICT must bridge inequalities: “A farmer in Jiwaka, a mother selling in a small food store, a student learning online, an entrepreneur in metropolitan PNG — all must benefit from ICT. This must be the platform that carries PNG into the next 50 years.”
Economic Strength and Reform Agenda
Highlighting Parliament’s passage of the ICT Act in 2020, Marape said PNG is now ready to fast-track digital reforms across the public and private sectors. He challenged global companies to deliver responsible and secure AI products that enhance productivity while eliminating harmful content.
PNG’s economic performance, he noted, places the country in a strong position to support major digital investments. Emerging from the COVID-19 downturn, PNG has recorded four consecutive years of GDP growth above 4 percent, including in non-mining sectors.
“The World Bank and IMF estimate our 2024 growth at around 4.5 to 4.6 percent, and we expect similar growth next year. For the first time in our history, we have had four straight years at around 4 percent growth,” he said.
Marape reaffirmed his ambition to grow PNG into a K200 billion economy, capable of supporting its expanding population and development needs.
PNG’s Strategic Advantage
The Prime Minister emphasised PNG’s unique position as:
- A bridge between Asia and the Pacific
- A Western-style democracy with an independent judiciary
- A stable marketplace for global ICT investors
- A neutral, secure location for data centres, satellite infrastructure, and fibre-based technologies
He announced reforms to strengthen PNG’s judiciary, including the introduction of a three-tier court system to improve dispute resolution and investor confidence.
Marape invited global tech companies — from Oracle to Google to SpaceX — to consider PNG as a neutral and strategically located hub for data and cloud infrastructure. He highlighted PNG’s vast renewable energy potential, including hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind, positioning the country as a regional hub for powering data centres.
“Our hydro potential is second to none. Combined with geothermal, solar, and wind, PNG can offer clean energy to drive the next generation of global data infrastructure,” he said.
Closing Call to Action
Concluding his remarks, Prime Minister Marape urged delegates to use the Summit as a platform to shape PNG’s next chapter:
“The world is moving in this space — let us find ICT platforms and products that embrace our diversity, make us safer, and help grow our businesses and our country. May we use digital transformation to deliver prosperity for our people.”
He thanked all partners and stakeholders and reaffirmed PNG’s commitment to building a transparent, connected, and technology-driven future.