Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has called on the European Union to build stronger trade and investment partnerships with Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region, stressing that fair commerce, not aid, is the pathway to sustainable development.
Speaking at the European Union–Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Marape reaffirmed Papua New
Guinea’s solidarity with small island developing states, highlighting that his own country also faces similar challenges through its island provinces and communities.
“I want to place my full support behind the advocacy of small island states,” Prime Minister Marape said. “While they face unique vulnerabilities, Papua New Guinea too has small island communities that qualify under this cluster. We share their concerns and challenges.”
The Prime Minister commended the European Union for its longstanding role in the Pacific, describing Europe as a reliable partner and an important export market.
“Europe has been a constant presence in our region for hundreds of years. Papua New Guinea has benefited greatly from European markets, lending, and grants. But going forward, our emphasis is not on aid but on fair trade,” he said.
PM Marape underscored the Pacific’s vast scale and potential, describing the region as a “big ocean” rather than small islands.
“The Pacific Ocean is so vast you could sink the entire European continent into it 20 times over. We are big ocean states with big airspace, and in the future, it will be about who dominates these spaces — in technology, commerce, and security,” he said. He invited Europe to invest in the Pacific’s resource sectors, including tuna, clean energy, agriculture, and mining, while also encouraging European businesses to relocate and establish operations in the region.
“Sixty percent of the world’s yellowfin tuna comes from the Pacific. We have palm oil, cocoa, coconut oil, coffee, gold, and copper. What we ask for is not aid and grants, but trade. Trade fairly with us: you sell us what we don’t produce, and we sell you what we do produce. That is how we will sustain ourselves,” PM Marape told the gathering.
The Prime Minister also noted Papua New Guinea’s growing integration with Asia, including its move towards full membership in ASEAN, making it a strategic hub for both Asian and European investors.
“As commerce increasingly drives relationships, the future is in trade and investment. Europe has a vital role to play. Our call is simple: not aid, but trade,” he concluded.