Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today outlined the Economic Transformation and Implementation Pillars of the PNG Reset@50 Roadmap, calling them “the engine room of growth, jobs, and national productivity for the next 20 years.”

Driving Evidence-Based Governance and Digital Identity

The Prime Minister emphasised that progress requires decisions grounded in data—not sentiment. “For too long, we have made decisions based on feelings. The Roadmap insists on evidence, cost-benefit analysis, and measurable outcomes,” he said.

This then calls for:

– Mandatory evidence-based Cabinet submissions

– A strengthened Parliamentary Budget Office

– Independent extractive and infrastructure advisory councils

– Public access to data and national statistics

This focuses on completing a universal NID System integrated across Government, enabling inclusive finance, social protection, and secure identification.

Enshrining Private Sector–Led, Government-Facilitated Growth

The Prime Minister reaffirmed his long-standing position that Private Sector–led growth must be the foundation of PNG’s economy.

“Government must facilitate, not suffocate, Private Sector growth. The Roadmap reinforces this principle as official Policy,” PM Marape said.

This then calls for:

– A National Policy confirming Private Sector as the engine of growth

– Major regulatory reforms to reduce red tape

– Accelerated Resource Projects with strong Environmental safeguards

– SOE Reform and improved Investor Confidence

– Modernised Agriculture for Productivity and Exports

– Regional Visa access for PNG citizens

Land Reforms to Unlock Housing & Agriculture

This focuses on freeing up Land for development using voluntary, respectful, customary Land Registration systems.

PM Marape stated: “Land is our greatest blessing. But unused land is not productive land. With voluntary best-practice land reforms, we will unlock land for Housing, Agriculture, and SMEs while respecting customary ownership.”

Reforming the Public Service

The Roadmap identifies unproductive bureaucracy, duplication, and payroll abuses as major obstacles. PM Marape revealed that the Government has already begun payroll cleansing, uncovering over 4,000 unattached employees. “This is just the beginning. A whole-of-Government functional audit will remove duplication, improve integrity, and link pay to performance,” he said.

Building a Strong Delivery System

This calls for a centralised Project Management Unit and full activation of the National Monitoring and Coordination Authority to ensure implementation of all Reforms. “Monitoring and delivery have been the greatest weaknesses of successive Governments. It ends now. Every Kina spent must hit the development target,” PM Marape said.

A Nation Positioned for Growth

PM Marape reminded the nation that PNG is aiming for a K200 billion economy by 2029–2030, and a prosperous, wise, and wealthy society by 2050. “Reset@50 is our chance to reboot governance, transform services, expand the economy, and build the richest Black Christian nation on earth.” he concluded.