Chief Secretary to Government Ivan Pomaleu, OBE has supported a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Somare Institute of Leadership & Governance (SILAG) and the Sri Lanka’s National Institute of Business Management (NIBM), calling it a momentous step in the strengthening and modernization of Papua New Guinea’s Public Service.

This MOU was signed on Tuesday 10th February 2026 in Port Moresby.

It aims to transform public sector education in Papua New Guinea which SILAG aspires to become PNG’s premier institute for advancing leadership and governance in the public service, ultimately transitioning into a specialized public-service degree granting institution by 2027.

In his remarks, Mr Pomaleu said this MOU represents a transformative commitment to our national development  and  leadership  priorities.  It  is  more  than  an  agreement  between  institutions:  it  is  a blueprint for transformation, a roadmap for excellence, and a firm commitment to build a world-class public service that delivers for every citizen of PNG.

The Chief Secretary explained that it aligns seamlessly with PNG’s comprehensive public sector reform agenda and our public sector training policy.

“Modernization of the public service is imperative — not optional. The MOU supports our objective to create a functional, efficient and results-driven public service that meets the needs of our people, from urban centres to our most remote villages,” he said.

“Through joint programs in leadership development, capacity building, technical assistance and institutional strengthening, SILAG and NIBM will help prepare thousands of PNG public servants to serve with competence, dedication and a service-oriented mindset,” the Chief Secretary said.

Mr Pomaleu reiterated that this is an example of educational diplomacy where it demonstrates how nations can work together to strengthen public service leadership, modernize learning systems and prepare for future challenges.

“We are grateful for Sri Lanka’s expertise and look forward to a relationship founded on mutual respect, shared learning and collective growth,” he said.

The Chief Secretary pointed out that human resource development and management are central to the success of any reform.

“Our people are our greatest asset. No funding, no policy and no plan will succeed without dedicated, skilled and motivated individuals to implement them. We must cultivate ethical, competent, innovative and service-oriented leaders for the next generation. Complacency is not an option; excellence is the target,” he explained.

“The world is changing quickly — driven by technology and new ways of working. We must move decisively from outdated, paper-heavy systems to data-driven approaches that enable accountability, transparency and measurable results,” he added.

This partnership will also support those shifts by introducing best practices, modern learning approaches and systems that produce real, measurable improvements in service delivery.

•  Instil the right attitudes and values among public servants;

•  Strengthen institutional capacity at national, provincial and local levels;

•   Build  a  public  service  that  is  responsive,  listens,  acts  with  urgency,  delivers  on  its promises, and treats every citizen with dignity and respect; and

•   Align our public service training with global best practice and international standards, positioning SILAG and NIBM among the leading public service academies in the Asia Pacific.

Further he said it will facilitate knowledge exchange, targeted capacity development programs, technical assistance and institutional strengthening initiatives.

“These efforts will benefit thousands of public servants across PNG and help build a public service fit for purpose today and strategically prepared to meet the complex challenges of tomorrow. We expect to see ethical, innovative and adaptive leaders emerge who can steer departments and agencies to deliver services effectively and accountably,” he added.

Mr Pomaleu said, “his presence here today, despite other pressing commitments, underscores how important this partnership is to our government and to the future of PNG.”

He maintained that this day marks the beginning of a new chapter defined by bold reforms, meaningful partnership and an unwavering commitment to a public service we can all be proud of.

In closing, Mr Pomaleu thanked the Sri Lankan partners for their cooperation and look forward to the tangible results this partnership will bring to our people.

“Together, we will build a stronger, more effective public service and a better future for Papua New Guinea,” he said.