Marape called for PNG to learn from successful economies like South Korea. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is calling on the Treasury, Finance, and National Planning departments to strategically drive the country's economic development.
In January, Marape reshuffled his Cabinet which included his appointment as Treasury Minister, demoting Kavieng Open MP Ian Ling-Stuckey from the role.
He said there is a need for these key departments to work cohesively and focus on achieving economic independence as PNG approaches its 50th independence anniversary in 2025.
Marape called for PNG to learn from successful economies like South Korea.
He said an effective collaboration and a transformation-driven mindset will deliver quality results, undistracted by political issues.
The prime minister has also launched the National Agriculture Sector Plan, looking to the sector to generate billions more in earnings and thousands of jobs.
"We have land which we own, we can easily make the switch from subsistence to commercial agriculture and the government is there to work with the private sector to find markets for our people," he said.
"Agriculture is the core policy of my party, Pangu. It is a sleeping economic giant that has my government's undivided support to unlock this real treasure."