Prime Minister Hon. James Marape will travel to Honiara, Solomon Islands, this week for the inaugural Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Investment Conference, saying the strong Political and Historical Relationship between the two neighbouring Melanesian Nations must increasingly translate into Trade, Investment, Jobs and Business opportunities.
The Conference will be held at the Heritage Park Hotel on 19–20 August 2026 under the theme ‘From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG–Solomon Islands Growth Corridor.’ Prime Minister Marape will address the Conference alongside Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Wale, who will officially open the Event. Government Leaders, Investors, Business Executives, Financial Institutions and Development Partners from both countries are expected to participate. “This Conference is about taking the strong Relationship between Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands into its next important phase,” Prime Minister Marape said. “We have longstanding historical, cultural and people-to- people ties. Our Governments enjoy very good Relations. We must now use that foundation to generate greater Economic Opportunities for our people. We want to move from Opportunity to actual Investment, and from Government-to-Government Cooperation into stronger Business-to-Business Partnerships.”
BUILDING ON STRONG PNG INVESTMENT PRESENCE
Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea already has a significant Commercial footprint in Solomon Islands built over several decades. A 30-year Review records 126 PNG-Origin registered Investments across 18 Sectors, including Agriculture, Communications and ICT, Construction, Financial Services, Fisheries, Mining, Insurance, Professional Services, Retail and Wholesale, Tourism and Transportation. These Investments have proposed Employment for more than 7,500 Solomon Islands citizens, with Agriculture, Professional Services and Fisheries among the largest Employment-generating Sectors. PNG Investment has also evolved from Major Capital Projects in Mining, Telecommunications, Tourism and Agriculture into an increasingly diverse presence encompassing Finance, Construction, Retail, Professional Services, Transportation and SMEs. “Papua New Guinean Businesses have demonstrated that they can successfully invest beyond our borders while creating Employment and contributing to the Economy of a neighbouring Pacific country,” Prime Minister Marape said. “I thank the Government and People of Solomon Islands for welcoming our Businesses and giving them the confidence to invest. But I also want this Relationship to become increasingly two-way. Solomon Islands Businesses are equally welcome to explore opportunities in Papua New Guinea.”
FROM POLITICAL RELATIONS TO ECONOMIC RESULTS
The Honiara Conference follows Prime Minister Wale’s Official Visit to Port Moresby in June, when the two Leaders signed the Framework Agreement on Development and Economic Cooperation 2026–2030. The Agreement provides a platform for closer Cooperation in Trade and Investment, Mining, Fisheries, Agriculture, Infrastructure and other areas of mutual Economic interest.
Prime Minister Marape said the Conference was an important practical step in implementing that commitment. “When Prime Minister Wale visited Port Moresby, we agreed that our Relationship must produce tangible outcomes for our countries,” he said. “We have established the Government Framework. Now we want our Private Sectors to identify Projects, establish Partnerships and turn those Opportunities into Investment. Our discussions in Honiara will look particularly at Agriculture, Fisheries, Mining, Energy, Tourism, Infrastructure, Financial Services, Telecommunications, Transport and Downstream Processing.”
Prime Minister Marape said greater Connectivity and Downstream Processing offered particular Opportunities for the two Economies. “Instead of Exporting all our Raw Resources for processing elsewhere, our countries should look at where we can build Pacific value chains, add value locally and create more Employment for our people,” he said.
PNG MUST ALSO BECOME A REGIONAL INVESTOR
Prime Minister Marape said his Government’s broader Economic Diplomacy is aimed not only at attracting international capital into PNG, but also at creating conditions for successful Papua New Guinean Businesses to expand internationally. Conference organisers estimate that PNG Businesses already have around K1 billion, or approximately SBD1.8 billion, invested in Solomon Islands. “We rightly work hard to bring Foreign Investment into Papua New Guinea, but our ambition must go further,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Papua New Guinea must also become an Investor in the Pacific and, increasingly, beyond our Region. Our Banks, Telecommunications Companies, Resource Businesses, Superannuation Funds, Agricultural Companies, Professional Firms and SMEs should be confident enough to look beyond our borders. Solomon Islands is a natural Economic Partner because of our proximity, established Business Relationships and strong Bilateral ties.”
Prime Minister Marape said this approach was consistent with his Government’s wider Foreign Policy of ensuring PNG’s International Relationships deliver practical Economic benefits. “Our Diplomacy must ultimately create opportunities for our people. Whether we engage our Pacific neighbours or major Economies around the world, we continue to place Trade, Investment, Markets, Infrastructure, Technology and Employment at the centre of those Relationships,” he said.
BUILDING A MELANESIAN GROWTH CORRIDOR
Prime Minister Marape said stronger Economic Integration between PNG and Solomon Islands could become a model for greater Melanesian and Pacific Economic Cooperation. “We should not only meet as Pacific Leaders at Political Forums. Our countries must trade more with each other, invest in each other and build businesses together,” he said.
“A stronger PNG–Solomon Islands Economic Corridor will strengthen both countries and contribute to a more economically resilient Melanesia and Pacific.” Prime Minister Marape thanked Prime Minister Wale and the Solomon Islands Government, the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Business Council for supporting the Conference. He also encouraged PNG Businesses attending the Event to use it to establish practical Commercial Partnerships. “Go to Honiara looking for real opportunities. Meet Solomon Islands Businesses, identify Projects and explore Joint Ventures,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Our Political Relationship is strong, our People-to-People Relationship is strong, and our history binds us together. Now we must ensure our Economic Relationship grows just as strongly.”