Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says the strong 2025 financial performance of Papua New Guinea’s two major superannuation funds—Nambawan Super and NASFUND—is a positive indication that the Government’s economic strategy is strengthening the national economy.
The Prime Minister said the solid results delivered by the two funds, which together manage more than K22 billion in members’ retirement savings, demonstrate growing confidence in Papua New Guinea’s economy and financial institutions.
In its 2025 financial results, Nambawan Super announced that its net asset value had reached K13 billion, while declaring an interest crediting rate of 12 percent, up from 10.5 percent in 2024. The fund’s membership also grew to more than 245,000 members, reflecting continued expansion in the formal workforce.
Meanwhile, NASFUND reported a profit after tax of K1.086 billion and net asset value of K9.45 billion in 2025, while declaring a 13 percent interest crediting rate for its 744,213 members.
Prime Minister Marape said the strong returns delivered by both superannuation funds in 2025 were encouraging for Papua New Guinea’s workers and the broader economy.
“The performance of our two major super funds in 2025 is a strong vote of confidence in our economy,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“Nambawan Super and NASFUND delivering strong returns for their members affirms the work our government has been doing to stabilise and grow the economy.”
The Prime Minister said the results also reflect the Government’s focus on building a more sustainable and diversified economy.
“Our focus on agriculture and other productive sectors is aimed at ensuring that our economy is not overly dependent on mining and petroleum,” he said.
“We are now beginning to see the first buds of green growth emerging as a result of these policy directions.”
Prime Minister Marape said the Government has deliberately used expansionary fiscal policy to stimulate economic growth.
“Over the last seven national budgets, our government has circulated more than K160 billion into the economy, deliberately running targeted deficit budgets designed to stimulate growth and expand opportunities,” he said.
He said the strong performance of the superannuation sector, along with improved returns from banks, financial institutions and other major sectors of the economy, demonstrates that the Government’s economic strategy is producing results.
“When our super funds perform strongly, and when banks, transport companies and hotels also report stronger returns, it indicates that economic activity is improving and our expansionary budget strategy is working,” Prime Minister Marape said.
The Prime Minister noted that when his government took office in 2019, Papua New Guinea’s economy had been weakened by several years of fiscal and economic pressures.
“In 2018 the national budget was under K14 billion, and the economy had experienced recessionary pressures,” he said.
“Since then, we have steadily grown the national budget to around K30 billion in 2026, reflecting the expansion of our economy.”
Prime Minister Marape said the Government is now targeting a return to a balanced or surplus budget from next year, noting that the last time Papua New Guinea achieved this was around 2008–2009.
“If we maintain our current economic trajectory, the national budget could exceed K40 billion within the next four years, even before accounting for revenues from major new resource projects such as Papua LNG, Wafi- Golpu and other developments,” he said.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed his long-term economic vision of building a K200 billion economy. “When we took office in 2019, Papua New Guinea’s economy was valued at around K79 billion,” he said. “Today it has grown to more than K135 billion, and we are targeting a K200 billion economy by around 2031.”
He said continued economic growth will translate directly into stronger retirement savings for Papua New Guinean workers.
“As the economy grows, our super funds will also grow, delivering stronger returns and greater retirement security for our people,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“We are already seeing more Papua New Guineans accumulating substantial savings through superannuation contributions, and with sustained economic growth many contributors could see balances of K500,000 to K1 million or more into the future.”
Prime Minister Marape also encouraged national and provincial leaders to prioritise economic activities that generate income opportunities for citizens.
“I encourage all leaders—especially Governors—to establish and support initiatives that create cash-earning opportunities for our people,” he said.
“When our people are productively engaged in agriculture, SMEs and other sectors, we all contribute to growing the national economy.”
Prime Minister Marape said strong institutions such as NASFUND and Nambawan Super remain vital pillars supporting Papua New Guinea’s long-term economic growth and financial stability.