A groundbreaking ceremony for the significant redevelopment of the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries College (NFC) in Kavieng is set to take place, following Prime Minister James Marape’s high-level meeting with Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President, Mr. Akihiko Tanaka, at Okura Hotel, Tokyo. National Fisheries Authority (NFA) Managing Director Mr. Justin Ilakini welcomed the development as a milestone in PNG’s partnership with the Government of Japan and JICA, marking a new chapter in strengthening capacity and sustainability in the fisheries sector. “The groundbreaking of this K92 million redevelopment of the National Fisheries College is a direct outcome of the enduring and successful partnership between the Government of Papua New Guinea and JICA. “It reflects JICA’s unwavering commitment to our human capital development and infrastructure priorities within the fisheries sector,” Mr. Ilakini said. Since 2006, the PNG fisheries sector has benefited immensely from Japanese development cooperation, receiving over USD 63.2 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) across grants, infrastructure projects, technical training, and capacity building—support which continues to bolster PNG’s efforts to sustainably manage and develop its vital fisheries resources. “This partnership has been instrumental in our fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and in building a foundation for our tuna domestication agenda through the National Tuna Domestication Strategy 2025–2035,” Mr. Ilakini added. The college upgrade project—signed last month during a formal exchange of notes at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby—will deliver modern training and research facilities, enabling a new generation of Papua New Guineans to access world-class fisheries education and technical skills. In addition to the college redevelopment, Japan has pledged support for the procurement of a new fisheries research and training vessel, which will enhance surveillance capabilities in PNG’s maritime zones. “We extend our deepest gratitude to JICA and the people of Japan because their support aligns with our broader national strategy to localize investment in the tuna value chain, create jobs, boost food security, and expand onshore processing capacity,” Mr. Ilakini said. “The NFC redevelopment is more than just a building project—it is an investment in the future of Papua New Guinea’s fisheries sector and a cornerstone of our long-term economic transformation in reaching the K200 billion economic vision by 2030 envisaged by the Marape - Rosso government.”