This article covers cultural relations, education cooperation and the Indian community in Papua New Guinea (PNG), as described in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of July 2026.
Cultural relations
According to the MEA brief of July 2026, the High Commission of India has been organising the International Day of Yoga in PNG regularly since 2015. It also holds regular yoga classes at the High Commission. Many cultural events were organised in PNG under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM).
At the 3rd FIPIC Summit in Port Moresby in May 2023, Prime Minister Modi launched a Tamil classic translated into the local language, Tok Pisin, which the brief presents as a gesture of cultural exchange.
A cheque of US$ 50,000, as Grant-in-Aid for IT equipment for the National Cultural Commission of PNG, was handed over to PNG's Minister of Culture, Isi Leonard, on 3 November 2022.
The Centre of Excellence in IT
Under an MoU for the Establishment of a Centre of Excellence in IT, India has set up a Centre of Excellence in Info Tech (CEIT) at the University of PNG in Port Moresby. An MoU on setting up a Centre of Excellence in IT in PNG was among the four signed during the President of India's visit in April 2016. The brief states that the Centre was run by two IT experts from India, who were stationed there for 2 years until November 2021.
On 17 December 2019, Dr. Devyani Khobragade, JS (DPA-II), visited PNG and held meetings with the Vice Chancellor of the University of PNG. Discussions covered converting the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Excellence in Information Tech into a regional hub, where ITEC trainees from Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau would undergo training.
University of Technology, Lae
The University of Technology in Lae is a partner in two areas recorded in the brief. An MoU on Agriculture Research Cooperation between UNITECH and the Indian Council for Agricultural Research was signed during the President's 2016 visit. The brief also states that the Ministry has recently approved a Grant in Aid of K 5,42,500 (US$ 153,893) to support improved ICT infrastructure at the university, which it refers to here as UNITEC.
Scholarships and training
Education has been on the bilateral agenda for some time: at the 2015 FIPIC Summit in Jaipur, PNG's then Prime Minister Peter O'Neill listed education among the areas in which PNG wished to see greater engagement by India. The 12-step action plan announced by Prime Minister Modi at the 3rd FIPIC Summit includes scholarships for the region.
The Indian community
The brief states that there are 4,000 members of the Indian Diaspora in PNG. They include professionals such as Chartered Accountants, University Professors, School Teachers and Doctors, while others work in IT, finance, trading, business and missionary work. The brief notes that there are influential Indians owning, directly or in partnership, prominent super stores and businesses.
The Governor of West New Britain Province, Sasindran, is an Indian-origin Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee, and was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution to Public Affairs. As Governor, Sasindran Muthuvel was part of a 25-member delegation led by the Minister for National Planning & Monitoring, Richard Maru, that visited India from 10 to 16 December 2017. The delegation also included the Minister for ICT and Energy, Sam Basil, and the Minister for Education, Nick Kuman. The brief states that the Indian community is making significant contributions to the economy and society in PNG.
Professional links include accountancy. A 2-member delegation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) visited Port Moresby from 17 to 19 July 2018 for discussions with the Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA PNG) and the Society of Indian Chartered Accountants Inc (SICA). The aim was to facilitate CPA PNG's application for membership of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).