Summary of Prime Minister James Marape's Address at the Digital Transformation Summit 2025
At the Digital Transformation Summit 2025 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Hon. James Marape urged the nation to fully embrace digital transformation, positioning information and communications technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) as the core drivers of PNG's development, growth, and public-sector efficiency over the next 50 years.
The event, attended by global ICT leaders, academics, experts, developers, and international partners, marks a pivotal moment as PNG shifts from its 50th independence anniversary into a reform era under the Reset PNG@50 agenda.
Marape warmly welcomed delegates, including ICT Minister Hon. Peter Tsiamalil Jr., the Australian High Commissioner, and key government and industry figures, celebrating PNG's unparalleled diversity—home to 67% of the world's biodiversity and over 800 languages—while emphasizing national unity rooted in the rule of law and Christian faith. Since 2019, the government has prioritized ICT to enhance transparency, efficiency, accountability, and equitable service access.
Highlighting AI's potential, Marape described it as a catalyst for a merit-based society, efficient workforce, and accountable economy, warning that PNG cannot afford to lag in the global digital race. Drawing inspiration from leaders like Estonia, Singapore, India, and the UAE, he noted PNG's "greenfield" advantage, allowing it to adopt secure, cutting-edge systems and leapfrog outdated models.
The government's key digital priorities include establishing a digital national identity, robust payment systems, SME connectivity, online learning for students, remote market access for rural entrepreneurs, and ICT-enabled transparency in operations. Marape stressed that these tools must bridge inequalities, ensuring benefits for everyone—from Jiwaka farmers to urban entrepreneurs—propelling PNG forward.
Building on the 2020 ICT Act, PNG is accelerating reforms across sectors and challenging global firms to provide responsible AI that boosts productivity without harmful content. Economically robust, PNG has achieved four consecutive years of over 4% GDP growth post-COVID, with 2024 estimates at 4.5-4.6% and similar projections for 2025. Marape reiterated his vision of a K200 billion economy to sustain the growing population.
Positioning PNG as a strategic Asia-Pacific bridge, a stable Western-style democracy with judicial reforms (including a new three-tier court system), and a neutral hub for data centers and infrastructure, Marape invited tech giants like Oracle, Google, and SpaceX to invest. He touted PNG's vast renewable energy resources—hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind—as ideal for powering sustainable global data operations.
In closing, Marape called on participants to leverage the Summit for collaborative platforms that honor PNG's diversity, enhance security, and foster prosperity, reaffirming the nation's commitment to a transparent, connected, tech-driven future.