THE Pacific’s biggest market by population and landmass size is reaching out to Fiji to strengthen business ties.
Papua New Guinea, a market of approximately 10 million people and untold riches in minerals, oil, gas, agriculture, cultural diversity, flora and fauna, is sending a high-powered trade and investment delegation to Fiji next week to help boost economic cooperation between Fiji and PNG, two of the Pacific’s and Melanesia’s biggest economies.
Led by PNG’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration, Lands and Physical Planning John Rosso and Minister for Commerce and Industry Win Bakri Daki, the delegation’s visit follows an invitation made during Fiji’s investment mission to Port Moresby in March this year.
That mission, according to Investment Fiji, generated strong commercial interest, with PNG businesses expressing plans to invest in Fiji and Fijian companies exploring sales into PNG, translating to a total of 11 foreign investment leads and 21 trade leads.
Investment Fiji’s chief executive officer Kamal Chetty said the mission is about more than just numbers.
“These meetings are about people, building trust, exchanging ideas and creating opportunities that benefit communities in both countries,” Mr Chetty said in a statement issued yesterday.
“This mission is a chance to turn conversations into real projects that will strengthen our Pacific economy.”
PNG’s Investment Mission to Fiji, organised by the PNG Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) in partnership with Investment Fiji, the PNG High Commission in Suva and Fiji’s High Commission in Port Moresby, will run from August 18 to 23.
The delegation will include senior government officials, industry leaders and private sector representatives from PNG and according to Investment Fiji, will focus on government-to-government (G2G), business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings in Suva and Nadi.
A business conference under the theme “Connecting Our Businesses; Creating Opportunities for Our Pacific” will anchor the programme, alongside networking events for public and private sector participants.
“PNG investors have already committed projects in Fiji worth $600,000 since August 2022, mainly in agriculture and services. However, Fiji’s exports to PNG fell from $34.4million in 2022 to $25.3million in 2023 — a 26 per cent drop,” Investment Fiji stated.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated August 16, 2025