BRISBANE, 12 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has called on Australian businesses to increase their investment in Papua New Guinea as it enters a decade of economic expansion, major resource projects and infrastructure development. Marape told the Business Advantage PNG Investment Conference in Brisbane that Australian companies already operating in PNG should expand, while encouraging prospective investors to enter the market now. “If you’re already in PNG, get entrenched,” he said. “If you’re wanting to come to PNG, come now. “The next 10-year window might close on you.” Marape thanked Business Advantage International executive chairman Andrew Wilkins and his team for continuing to provide an important platform connecting Papua New Guinea to Australian and international investors. Marape said the Australia-PNG relationship extended far beyond Independence in 1975 and had been built over generations through churches, business, Government and people-to-people connections. “Our history is deep,” he said. “We have depth of relationship – people to people through churches, social activities and sport, business to business, and government to government.” Marape said this long relationship must now be translated into a stronger economic partnership. He recalled the challenge given to his generation by founding Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare to achieve economic independence. “For what use is political independence if we don’t have the economy to sustain our country?” he said. Marape said the Government’s economic philosophy was based on growing the economy while ensuring PNG received a fair return from its natural resources without undermining investors’ legitimate returns. “We want Papua New Guinea to be a place where all investors – local and international – make a fair return on their investments as our country moves into the next 50 years,” he said. Marape said the National Budget had exceeded K30 billion (US$6.7 billion), compared to around K300 million (US$67 million) in 1975. He said an important feature of recent economic performance was increasing activity outside the traditional mining and petroleum sectors. “We are starting to see the diversification focus coming to fruition,” he said…..PACNEWS