PNG’s interest is to have access to international markets for its products. In order to sustain its export performance it is important to have a competitive and dynamic domestic market for goods as well as the development of the domestic services sector. In this way PNG can cash in on tangible benefits from new and emerging global markets.
The Government is pursueing effective aid for trade arrangements with its development partners and establishing alliances and friendships with new trading partners. This approach is consistent with its existing foreign policy based on “Active and Selective Engagement”. This foreign policy stance allows PNG the flexibility to pursue specific interests and to choose what it considers to be beneficial, useful, and important to its development aspirations.
This process has enabled PNG to consolidate and extend existing relations, maintain meaningful cooperation with the neighbouring countries, regional organisations and has further diversified and developed relations with the Governments of the global community.
Papua New Guinea is a member of many regional and international organisations including the United Nations, the Commonwealth, World Trade Organization (WTO), Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP). It is also a member of many International Commodity organisations under which trade is conducted. Its major trading partners are Australia, Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore and the United States, and with the EU countries it is Germany followed by the United Kingdom.
On the domestic front the government’s objective is to provide a suitable environment for the community and the private sector to grow and develop, improve delivery of services to the public, generate opportunities and encourage rural sector participation in economic activities to create wealth. It is an integrated approach by the Government to the implementation of policies pertaining to social, institutional and economic activities.