Driving Sustainability and Securing Markets: FIA PNG Aligns with Outcomes of the 5th EU-PNG Business Forum

The 5th European Union–Papua New Guinea (EU-PNG) Business Forum convened in Port Moresby on June 2-3, 2026, gathering more than 400 policymakers, international investors, and business leaders. Operating under the theme “The EU Global Gateway for Sustainable Investment, Connectivity and Growth in Papua New Guinea,” the high-level event focused on shifting an annual 5 billion Kina bilateral trade relationship into tangible, long-term development outcomes and sustainable domestic infrastructure.

For the Fishing Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG), the forum served as a major strategic validation of our ongoing commitment to responsible fisheries management, ethical supply chains, and market integration.

The forum opened with decisive mandates from both Papua New Guinean and European leadership, setting a progressive tone for future trade relations:

• Hon. James Marape, Prime Minister of PNG, explicitly urged European delegates to focus on long-term sustainability rather than simply depleting the nation’s natural resources, ensuring an economic future for the next generation.

• PM Marape also reassured international markets that PNG provides a secure, rule-of-law environment for foreign capital by leveraging its democratic systems and independent courts.

• H.E. Erika Hasznos, Ambassador of the European Union to PNG, highlighted PNG’s strategic role as a vital economic gateway between Asia and the Pacific. She noted that the country possesses one of the world's largest exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and the largest population in the Pacific region.

• Ambassador Hasznos emphasized that under the EU’s €300 billion Global Gateway framework, the partnership is aggressively pivoting toward infrastructure. By utilizing financial instruments like EFSD+ blending and guarantees, the strategy aims to minimize risks for private investors across sustainable energy, digital networks, climate resilience, and value-added agricultural pathways.

  
  

Key Takeaways from the Global Gateway Strategy

The event marked a distinct transition from traditional trade dependencies to active, smart investments. The core outcomes shaping the bilateral landscape include:

1. Major Infrastructure Funding

The signature achievement of the forum was the signing of the Water Wise Communities Project. Funded by a K109.4 million (€25 million) concessional loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB Global) and a K83.48 million (€16.4 million) EU grant, this project will deliver clean, potable water to an additional 400,000 people across PNG.

2. Strategic Core Sector Focus

Matchmaking and plenary sessions strictly aligned with PNG's Medium-Term Development Plan IV (2023-2027). Discussions prioritized four key areas: the Green Transition, Digital Transformation, Sustainable Extraction, and Agribusiness Value Chains—encouraging small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to process commodities locally instead of exporting raw materials.

3. Corporate Interest and Tech Transfer

Delegations from more than 40 European companies attended the event. Tech and aerospace giants like Nokia and Airbus actively scouted commercial partnerships, responding to invitations from PNG officials to bring technical expertise, digital tools, and industry knowledge to underdeveloped economic sectors.

4. Maximizing the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA)

As the first Pacific nation to ratify the iEPA, PNG enjoys fully duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market, which stands as its fourth-largest export destination. Forum leaders focused heavily on scaling up value-added exports within this framework, particularly for the agriculture (coffee, cocoa) and fisheries sectors.

5. Compliance and Youth Inclusion

Exporters participated in dedicated masterclasses to navigate compliance with the strict EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Furthermore, acknowledging that roughly 60% of PNG's population is under the age of 25, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and local agencies emphasized building inclusive SME supply chains to turn trade agreements into real jobs for young Papua New Guineans.

Direct Implications for the Fishing Industry Association of PNG

The outcomes and themes of the EU-PNG Business Forum provide a powerful, direct endorsement of the FIA PNG Responsible Sourcing Policy (RSP). The collective focus on "long-term sustainability" and "Sustainable Extraction" directly corroborates our dedication to fostering domestic industrial growth through ethical and responsible fisheries governance.

To optimize market entry, maintain premium positioning in the European market, and meet emerging international benchmarks, the forum underscores the necessity of further strengthening the four primary pillars of our RSP:

• Fisheries Sustainability (MSC Certification): Preserving our Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) credentials remains paramount to fully leveraging the iEPA and commanding premium prices within the competitive European market.

• Catch Traceability: Rigorous, continuous adherence to the iFIMS traceability framework is indispensable for ensuring absolute transparency, eradicating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices, and satisfying strict EU catch certification mandates.

• Social Responsibility and Crew Welfare: Implementing the FISH (Fairness, Integrity, Safety, and Health) standard and actively advancing toward the ratification of the ILO C188 Work in Fishing Convention is critical to maintaining an ethical, socially responsible supply chain that appeals to international retailers.

• Marine Litter & Fishing Gear (ML&FG) Management: Validated by the forum's emphasis on conforming to global sustainability standards, the disciplined execution and auditing of our ML&FG protocols (aligned with MARPOL Annex V, GGGI, and UN SDG 14.1) must be maintained. This environmental discipline is essential to uphold the specific conditions required for our vital MSC tuna fishery certification.

  
  

Moving Forward: Growing Together

The forum officially concluded with joint remarks from Mr. Peteris Ustubs (Director for Asia, Central Asia, and Pacific at the European Commission's DG INTPA) and Hon. Justin Tkatchenko (PNG Minister for Foreign Affairs). Both leaders solidified a shared vision of an active, infrastructure-driven partnership where both regions work collaboratively to build economic resilience.

As FIA PNG continues to pioneer responsible sourcing and sustainable operations in the Pacific, we embrace the shared spirit of cooperation captured at the event:

"If You Want to Go Fast, Go Alone; If You Want to Go Far, Go Together"

Photo courtesy of  Isaiah Obun (L-R): Marton Keri- EU Investment Officer, Clare Tutuana-FIA PNG Planning & Logistics Coordinator, Stella Kadeu -Projects Lead, Paripan Mama Business Group, Tracey Wafewa-Cluster Engagement Lead Palladium ‘Strongim Wok Long TVET(SWLT)’