Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, has welcomed Anna Bjerde, Managing Director for Operations at the World Bank, for high-level talks in Port Moresby, marking what he described as a deepening of development cooperation and a shared vision for economic transformation.
Bjerde’s visit — accompanied by senior World Bank officials — comes amid a significant ramp-up in World Bank funding to PNG, which has surged from US$475 million in 2023 to US$709 million in 2025. The scale-up, Marape said, reflects growing international confidence in PNG’s reform agenda and a renewed focus on sustainable, inclusive development.
“These investments are not just about infrastructure,” Marape told reporters after the meeting. “They are about improving lives, creating jobs, and lifting our people out of poverty.”
Investment in Key Sectors
During discussions, the Prime Minister spotlighted several flagship initiatives that are already underway with World Bank support, including:
A US$204 million renewable energy programme, aimed at expanding access to clean energy;
A US$160 million education reform project, designed to improve learning outcomes and expand access to schools;
A US$100 million second phase of the Rural Service Delivery Project, targeting better basic services in remote communities;
Support for youth employment and urban development initiatives in Lae, the National Capital District, and other centres.
Ms Bjerde praised PNG’s strides toward economic stability and its efforts to improve transparency and service delivery. “Papua New Guinea is showing strong leadership in charting a course toward fiscal sustainability,” she said, pledging continued World Bank engagement in areas such as debt restructuring and climate resilience.
Fiscal Reform and Long-Term Vision
Marape reiterated his government’s commitment to restoring fiscal balance by 2027, which would mark the country’s first balanced budget since 2010. Over the past five years, PNG has reduced its budget deficit by around K1 billion annually, he noted, with further reductions expected through 2026.
“We are charting a bold path to economic independence,” Marape said. “After 2027, we will shift from borrowing to debt repayment — and by 2033 or 2035, we aim to be debt-free. By 2045, our goal is to become a net contributor to the World Bank and IMF, not just a recipient.”
The Prime Minister also outlined PNG’s economic strategy, previously shared with IMF leadership in Washington, which prioritises trade-led growth over aid dependency.
Broader Development Priorities
Bjerde expressed interest in supporting the Government’s broader development agenda, including ambitions around labour mobility, education partnerships, and poverty reduction. She also affirmed the Bank’s readiness to work with PNG on climate action, clean energy expansion, and environmental protection.
Marape closed the meeting by inviting the President of the World Bank to visit PNG, reinforcing the Government’s desire for enduring partnerships based on long-term outcomes rather than short-term aid.
“Our ambition is clear,” the Prime Minister said. “We want to grow our economy, create opportunities for our youth, protect our environment, and emerge as a confident, independent nation contributing to the global development community.”