Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today met with the outgoing Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Mr. Said Zaidansyah, during a courtesy call at the Prime Minister’s Office, Melanesian Haus, where he commended the ADB for its enduring partnership and strong contribution to the nation’s development.
Mr. Zaidansyah, who has served in PNG for the past 27 months, leaves behind a solid record of collaboration between the ADB and the PNG Government, particularly in delivering major national projects across the energy, transport, and infrastructure sectors. These include the Civil Aviation Development Investment Program (CADIP), key national road projects, and ADB’s assistance in financing Air Niugini’s new A220 aircraft fleet — a milestone in modernising the country’s aviation services.
Prime Minister Marape expressed his sincere appreciation to Mr. Zaidansyah for his leadership and to the ADB for its longstanding commitment to Papua New Guinea’s development priorities.
“ADB has been one of our most trusted and effective development partners for many years,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Their support has been instrumental in building the foundations of our economy through infrastructure, energy, and transport connectivity. I sincerely thank Mr. Zaidansyah for his outstanding service and wish him every success in his next chapter.”
The Prime Minister noted that the partnership with ADB has not only focused on infrastructure but has also extended to improving governance, public sector capacity, and resilience in the economy. He emphasized that as PNG moves into its 50th year of nationhood, the Government is keen to deepen its collaboration with ADB in new areas such as education, finance, agriculture, and private sector growth.
“We are now moving into a new era of national development — what I call the ‘National Reset’ — and we look forward to ADB’s continued partnership as we diversify our economy,” PM Marape said. “Education, agriculture, and small-to-medium enterprises are at the heart of our future growth, and ADB’s technical expertise and financial support will be critical in transforming these sectors.”
Mr. Zaidansyah reaffirmed ADB’s confidence in PNG’s economic prospects, highlighting the country’s growing potential within the Asia-Pacific region and noting that major resource projects in the pipeline are expected to spur strong growth and private sector participation in the years ahead.
Prime Minister Marape acknowledged these positive sentiments and said the Government is fully committed to creating an enabling environment for investors and development partners. He reiterated that PNG’s economic trajectory remains strong, despite challenges, and that the Government’s focus on transparency, accountability, and technology-driven governance will help accelerate progress.
“As I stated during our Independence celebrations and Flag Raising at Independence Hill last month, Papua New Guinea is embracing the digital era,” PM Marape said. “We are investing in ICT and Artificial Intelligence technology to modernise Government systems, improve efficiency, and strengthen collaboration with partners like ADB. This is how we will deliver faster, smarter, and more transparent outcomes for our people.”
The Prime Minister concluded by expressing his gratitude on behalf of the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea for ADB’s ongoing support and partnership across multiple decades.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, I extend our heartfelt appreciation to ADB for its unwavering commitment to our development journey,” PM Marape said. “We value this partnership deeply, and we look forward to working closely with the incoming Country Director to continue the important work of building a stronger, more inclusive, and resilient Papua New Guinea.”