The launch of Australia’s Yumi Stap Wantaim campaign –a year-long celebration of Papua New Guinea’s 50th year of independence– has been welcomed by Prime Minister James Marape as a timely affirmation of the evolving partnership between PNG and its closest bilateral partner.
Speaking at the official launch in Port Moresby, Marape framed the relationship not just as historical but as a dynamic and maturing alliance poised for greater collaboration in trade, investment, climate resilience, and regional development. “We now speak as equals and partners in our region and in the world,” he said, reaffirming Papua New Guinea’s aspiration to be recognised not as an aid recipient but as a co-stakeholder in shaping the Pacific’s economic and strategic future.
Australian High Commissioner and Special Envoy for the Pacific, Ewen McDonald, echoed the sentiment, describing the campaign as a “tribute to the resilience, vitality, and spirit of the Papua New Guinean people,” and underscoring that Australia’s engagement across infrastructure, security, education and health remains anchored in mutual respect and shared goals.
The campaign, themed Yumi Stap Wantaim (“We Are Together”), will run until September and features joint activities spanning business, culture, sport, and defence –including music festivals, art showcases, and bilateral dialogues. These initiatives reflect the broadening scope of Papua New Guinea-Australia ties, which have recently included major infrastructure partnerships, digital transformation projects, and enhanced defence cooperation such as Papua New Guinea’s historic participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Business leaders have noted that Australia remains Papua New Guinea’s largest trade and investment partner, with two-way trade exceeding A$6.6 billion in 2023, according to DFAT figures. The expansion of Australian business support through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme and investments in digital connectivity and logistics—such as fibre optic rollouts and port upgrades –continue to lay the groundwork for Papua New Guinea’s private sector growth.
With the upcoming inclusion of a Papua New Guinea team in the NRL by 2028 and ongoing parliamentary exchanges between the two nations’ leaders, the campaign serves as both a celebration and a strategic platform for future economic and people-to-people engagement. As PM Marape said, “Let us walk the next 50 years with even greater resolve, working hand-in-hand for a better future for our peoples.”
