Tuesday 13 May 2025
(l-r) Secretary for Works & Highway and President of IEPNG, Mr. Gibson Holemba, Hon. Solan Mirisim, MP, Minister for Works & Highways, Secretary for Transport, Mr. Mathew Wowoni, and Mr. John Belly Kelly Kaio, Team Leader for Connect PNG Program).
Minister for Works and Highways Hon. Solan Mirism has announced Papua New Guinea’s admissions as the 81st member nation of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES), the global authority on underground infrastructure and tunnelling technologies.
This national achievement was a unanimous admission during the General Assembly of the 51st World Tunnelling Congress (WTC 2025) held in Sweden.
“This is a proud and historic moment for Papua New Guinea,” said Minister Mirism.
“As the Minister responsible for the Professional Engineers Registration Act and all its technical chapters, including the PNG Tunnelling Society, I am honoured to announce this global recognition of our engineering potential.”
“The milestone comes just 100 days before the nation marks its 50th Independence Anniversary.”
“It is a symbolic and strategic step forward in our national journey of building smarter and more resilient infrastructure systems for the next 50 years,” he said.
Minister Mirism emphasized that PNG’s challenging terrain and growing infrastructure needs make tunnelling a critical component of the country’s development plans.
“With PNG’s tough topography, tunnelling will be vital to the successful implementation of highway corridors and the future national railway network under Connect PNG,” he said.
He noted that the membership aligns with the government’s key development blueprints, including Vision 2050, the Medium-Term Development Plan IV, the National Transport Strategy, and the Connect PNG Infrastructure Development Plan.
Papua New Guinea’s admission to the ITA unlocks a range of benefits:
- Access to world-class technical knowledge and innovation in tunnelling;
- Strategic solutions to address urban challenges such as drainage and traffic congestion;
- Capacity-building opportunities through international training and knowledge-sharing;
- Support for local institutions, especially the growing PNG Tunnelling Society;
- And new research pathways to address infrastructure challenges linked to the country’s evolving geology.
As a first major initiative under this new membership, PNG will host an Optioneering Engineering Workshop focused on solving Port Moresby’s chronic drainage and traffic issues, in partnership with the ITA and international experts.
“Engineering is not just about building roads and tunnels; it’s about building futures,” Minister Mirism stated. “Through this partnership, Papua New Guinea is now better positioned to deliver modern, climate-resilient, and inclusive infrastructure that connects our people and secures a brighter future.”
Minister Mirism extended special praise to Mr. Solomon Angoman, President of the PNG Tunnelling Society, and his executive team for their instrumental role in securing PNG’s membership.
“Your dedication and professionalism are commendable, and I challenge all Papua New Guinea engineers and technologists to think innovation and provide solutions for emerging infrastructure challenges,” he said.
He also thanked Professor Arnold Dix, President of the ITA-AITES, for his warm welcome and support.
As the nation stands on the threshold of its golden jubilee of independence, Minister Mirism affirmed that engineering will be central to shaping the next chapter of national development—“above and below ground.”
“Together, with engineering at the heart of transformation, we will shape the next 50 years of Papua New Guinea’s development,” he concluded.
This new chapter positions Papua New Guinea not only as a growing regional player in infrastructure but also as a bold contributor to global engineering innovation.