Prime Minister James Marape has urged Papua New Guinea to fully embrace digital transformation, saying information and communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) will be the central drivers of the country’s next 50 years of development.
Speaking at the opening of the Digital Transformation Summit 2025 in Port Moresby, Marape welcomed participants from around the world, including ICT leaders, academics, developers, and international partners. The summit coincides with the nation stepping out of its 50th independence anniversary and into a new era under the Reset PNG@50 reform agenda.
Marape said the government had prioritised ICT since 2019 to create transparency, efficiency, accountability, and equitable access to services. He highlighted the transformational potential of AI, describing it as a tool to foster a merit-based society, an efficient workforce, and an accountable economy. “Digital transformation is here to stay. The world is moving fast; we cannot afford to be left behind,” he said.
The Prime Minister cited global leaders in digital innovation, including Estonia, Singapore, India, and the UAE, and said PNG has the opportunity to adopt the best systems and leapfrog into the future. Key priorities identified include digital national identity, payment systems, online learning, rural market access, SME connectivity, and ICT-driven transparency in government.
Marape highlighted PNG’s economic resilience, noting four consecutive years of 4%-plus GDP growth outside the mining and petroleum sectors, positioning the country to support major digital investments. He also underscored PNG’s strategic location as a bridge between Asia and the Pacific, its stable democracy, and abundant renewable energy resources suitable for data centres and ICT infrastructure.
The Prime Minister challenged technology companies to provide secure, responsible solutions, while encouraging delegates to use the summit to shape PNG’s next chapter. “May we use digital transformation to deliver prosperity for our people,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to a transparent, connected, and technology-driven future.