The official ground-breaking ceremony for the Kimbe Port Redevelopment Project which took place on the 28th of August 2025, marked a significant milestone in Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) efforts to improve essential infrastructure and enhance regional trade. Minister for State Enterprises, William Duma has turned the first sod with the Minister for Oil Palm, the Francis Galia Maneke, Governor of West New Britain the Sasindran Muthuvel, and Australia’s High Commissioner H.E. Mr. Ewen McDonald. The project is being delivered through a concessional loan from the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) in close partnership with the Government of PNG through PNG Ports Corporation Ltd (PNG Ports). The redeveloped Port is expected to see more than 600 thousand tonnes of cargo annually by 2050. This significantly enhances PNG’s export capacity, especially for palm oil, one of the country’s key agricultural exports. PNG Ports owns and operates fifteen ports which provide critical links to the world markets and contribute 22 per cent of PNG’s total economic activity as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Construction of the marine works was awarded to Pacific Marine Group Limited, while local-firm Global Constructions Limited will lead the K79 million shore-based works. Across both the marine and land works, the project is expected to create up to 300 local direct and indirect jobs, providing meaningful opportunities for PNG firms and workers. The Kimbe Port project (PGK260 million) is the first of five major port redevelopment projects to be delivered under the AIFFP-financed Ports Infrastructure Investment Program, which aims to support resilient, high-quality infrastructure across PNG. Minister for State Owned Enterprises, William Duma expressed how privilege he was to witness the beginning of what they will regard as a definitive event for Kimbe, and for the country. “As we break ground, we must remind ourselves we’re not merely launching a construction project, we are laying the foundations for enhanced connectivity and prosperity for generations to come in our country.” Meanwhile, Australia’s High Commissioner to PNG, H.E. Ewen McDonald, said that the PNG Australia relationship is a relationship between family. “Our modern-day relationship is about supporting conditions for economic prosperity. We are investing in high quality, sustainable infrastructure.” “Investments in roads, ports, power and telecommunications are all fundamental for creating an environment where businesses can thrive, and communities can prosper.” “With more than 90 per cent of internationally traded goods in Papua New Guinea transported by sea, maritime infrastructure is incredibly important.” First built in 1969, Kimbe Port is PNG’s third-largest port and handles around 75 per cent of the country’s annual palm oil exports, valued at approximately K1 billion per year. Furthermore, redevelopment initiatives for Oro Bay, Daru, Kavieng and Lae ports are in the pipeline, delivering on Australia’s support for PNG to build high quality, resilient and accessible infrastructure that drives economic growth, prosperity and enables Papua New Guineans to access greater opportunities.