Prime Minister Hon. James Marape will undertake an official State visit to France from May 19-21, 2026, aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic, defence, climate, and business ties between Papua New Guinea and France as the two countries commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations.
The visit follows a formal invitation from French President H.E. Emmanuel Macron and comes almost three years after President Macron’s historic State Visit to Papua New Guinea in July 2023 — the first by a French President and the first by a European Head of State since PNG’s Independence in 1975.
The visit is expected to deepen cooperation between the two nations at a time when Papua New Guinea is expanding its engagement with Europe on trade, climate change, security, infrastructure, energy, and investment.
Prime Minister Marape is scheduled to arrive in Paris on Tuesday, May 19.
A major focus of the visit will be economic and investment discussions with leading French and European business interests.
The Prime Minister will meet with MEDEF International, the French business council, for talks with representatives of major French companies involved in infrastructure, aviation, energy, climate financing, maritime development, and investment.
Another key engagement will be with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), where discussions are expected to include development cooperation, climate financing initiatives, renewable energy partnerships, and the proposed signing of the Rabaul Port rehabilitation loan agreement.
Prime Minister Marape will also meet representatives of TotalEnergies to discuss energy cooperation and investment opportunities involving Papua New Guinea’s growing resource sector, including Papua LNG and broader downstream development opportunities.
Defence and maritime security cooperation are also expected to feature prominently during the visit, including the anticipated signing of the PNG-France Ship Rider Agreement, which will further strengthen regional maritime surveillance and security cooperation in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the Pacific region.
Prime Minister Marape is also scheduled to visit the French National Assembly and participate in engagements hosted by the France-Pacific Partnership group.
A major cultural highlight of the visit will be attendance at the “Plumes of Paradise” exhibition at Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, showcasing Papua New Guinea’s rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions to French and international audiences.
The Prime Minister will also attend an official dinner hosted by President Macron at Élysée Palace, underscoring the growing importance of relations between Papua New Guinea and France.
During the visit, Prime Minister Marape is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Macron focusing on climate change, biodiversity protection, forestry conservation, infrastructure development, aviation cooperation, green finance, and trade and investment opportunities between Papua New Guinea, France, and the wider European Union market.
Discussions are also expected on Papua New Guinea’s proposed diplomatic mission in Paris, which would mark PNG’s first-ever embassy in France and strengthen long-term political, economic, and strategic engagement with Europe.
The Prime Minister is expected to highlight Papua New Guinea’s position as one of the world’s major rainforest nations and a key Pacific partner in global climate and biodiversity efforts under the PNG-France Country Package on Forest, Climate and Biodiversity.
The visit also comes as Papua New Guinea prepares to host the 5th European Union–Papua New Guinea Business Forum in Port Moresby in June 2026, aimed at boosting trade, investment, and private sector partnerships between PNG and Europe.
Prime Minister Marape said the visit reflected Papua New Guinea’s growing international engagement and strategic importance in the Pacific region.
“France is an important global partner and a key Pacific stakeholder through its territories in the region,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“This visit is about strengthening long-term partnerships in trade, investment, climate action, infrastructure, aviation, security, and economic development as Papua New Guinea approaches its 50th anniversary and positions itself as a leading Pacific nation.”
Prime Minister Marape is scheduled to depart Paris on Thursday for Port Moresby.