Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has announced that the National Government has received the preliminary findings of a major Cabinet- sanctioned review into Papua New Guinea’s development since Independence, with a focus on shaping the country’s future over the next two decades.

The 50-Year National Review Committee, chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Charles Abel and deputised by Mr Arthur Somare, presented its initial report to Prime Minister Marape and members of Cabinet today. The review was initiated by the National Executive Council to take an honest and independent assessment of the country’s progress since 1975 and chart a constructive path forward.

“This review is not about apportioning blame or celebrating blindly,” said Prime Minister Marape. “It is about critically analysing how far we have come in 50 years — identifying our weaknesses, recognising our strengths, and setting out what must be done to move forward with clarity and purpose.”

The report examined key performance areas including:

•        Human development indicators;

•        Macroeconomic trends;

•        Public service delivery;

•        Governance and institutional reform;

•        Youth demographics and social challenges.

Data and statistics were sourced from credible institutions including the National Research Institute (NRI), which recently completed its own comprehensive PNG 1975–2025 Review, along with inputs from the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC), UNDP, the Australian National University (ANU), and other local and international agencies.

“From 1975 to 2008, our economy grew below 1 percent annually while our population expanded by over 3 percent,” Prime Minister Marape noted. “This mismatch has contributed to the structural difficulties we face today — with half of our population under the age of 25. It is a wake-up call.”

The report further recommends priority areas for reform, including:

•        Accelerating economic diversification;

•        Improving government efficiency and accountability;

•        Tackling corruption and lawlessness;

•        Investing in human capital and youth opportunities.

The findings will feed directly into the Government’s current development planning, particularly:

•        The final five years of the National Strategic Plan 2010–2030;

•        The remaining 25 years of Vision 2050;

•        The operationalisation of the Medium-Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV).

Prime Minister Marape reaffirmed that the review is being conducted at arm’s length from political interference, with the committee granted full independence to assess even the performance of his own government over the past six years.

“I have instructed the committee to be critical, to be honest, and to tell us what needs fixing — not just in my government, but in the previous two governments under Sir Michael Somare and Peter O’Neill,” he said. “Not to criticise for the sake of it, but to allow us to correct course as we move forward.”

The final report will be submitted to Cabinet for consideration and then tabled in Parliament, ensuring that all elected leaders participate in shaping PNG’s next 20 years.

“We are not reinventing the wheel,” Prime Minister Marape added. “We are building on the foundation of Vision 2050, ensuring we are strategic, focused, and efficient — with an eye toward 2045, when the next generation of leaders can assess and prepare for life beyond 2050.”