This article covers India's development partnership with Papua New Guinea (PNG) and economic ties: the Line of Credit for roads, humanitarian and disaster relief, health and election support, digital and scientific cooperation, energy, and trade figures and goods. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) brief of July 2026. Education projects, including the IT centre of excellence, are covered in the culture and education article of this guide.

Line of Credit for roads

A Line of Credit (LoC) of US $100 million for infrastructure development was the subject of one of the MoUs signed during the President's visit in April 2016. According to the MEA brief of July 2026, a three-member delegation, comprising two representatives of EXIM Bank of India and Mr. S. Chinpau Ngaihte, Under Secy (DPA-I), MEA, visited PNG from 25 to 29 November 2018 to finalise the LoC agreement. The LoC finances:

  • US$60 million for the Bayer-Madang road project
  • US$40 million for the Hoskins-Kimbe road project

Humanitarian aid and disaster relief

The brief states that India has provided humanitarian aid and disaster relief to PNG from time to time:

  • February 2018: a US $1 million grant to the Government of PNG towards earthquake relief
  • after the Ulawun volcano erupted in June 2019: financial assistance of US$ 1 million for relief and restoration work in the affected areas
  • 06 December 2023: US$ 1m in immediate relief assistance after the Mt. Ulawun volcanic eruption in West New Britain province; relief materials and medical aid (17 tons) landed at Port Moresby on 22 December 2023
  • 14 June 2024: HADR relief assistance worth US$ 1 million, after a landslide in Enga province, reached Port Moresby airport

Health

In November 2016, a consignment of 7.2 million dosages of anti-retro viral drugs received from India, costing US$3 million, was handed over to the Government of PNG. India also donated 132,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid to PNG.

PNG's Minister of Health, Dr. Lino Tom, attended the 9th edition of the International Pharma Exhibition (IPHEX) of PHARMEXCIL in Hyderabad on 5 July 2023 as a Special Guest.

Support for elections

India gifted indelible ink worth around USD 450,000 to the PNG Electoral Commission for use in the 2022 PNG General Elections. In June 2025, indelible ink worth around US$ 217,000 was gifted to the Electoral Commission for the upcoming Local Level Government Elections.

ICT and digital cooperation

Computers and peripherals worth US$ 760,000, out of cumulative grant-in-aid under India's Regional Assistance to Pacific Island Countries, were provided to PNG during 2017-18.

From 24 to 29 July 2023, a PNG delegation led by the Minister for ICT, Timothy Masiu, visited Delhi. Discussions covered IT, biometric-ID, UPI, digital transformation and e-governance, and the Minister met Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MOS (Electronics & IT). During the visit, PNG's ICT Secretary Steven Matainaho and the CEO of India's National eGovernance Division signed an MoU on sharing India Stack. According to the brief, it aims to build capacities and implement population-scale Digital Public Infrastructure and Transformational Platforms for governance efficiency and transparency in PNG.

Earth sciences and space

  • A 3-member delegation led by Dr. M. Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, attended the 3rd Ministerial Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) Conference in Port Moresby on 23-25 August 2017.
  • A 4-member delegation led by Cdr. P.K. Srivastava, Director, Ministry of Earth Sciences, visited PNG from 25 to 27 July 2019 on a scoping mission to set up an Institute for Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Research in the Pacific region and a network of marine biology research laboratories.
  • On 13 December 2023, Smt. Paramita Tripathi, JS (Oceania), visited Port Moresby with an ISRO delegation led by Dr. SS Rao.

Energy and small enterprises

A PNG delegation led by the Minister for ICT & Energy, Sam Basil, attended the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi on 11 March 2018. Minister of Energy H.E. Peter Namea Isoaimo attended the Eighth Session of the ISA Assembly in New Delhi on 27-30 October 2025.

PNG Minister of Planning & Monitoring Richard Maru visited New Delhi from 25 to 29 March 2019. The brief notes that PNG has been working to develop its SME sector and to set up Regional Youth Incubation Centres on the Indian model, as part of its Medium-Term Development Plan-3.

Trade

The brief gives the following trade figures, in US$ million, from the Department of Commerce, Government of India:

  • 2020-21: exports from India 56.17, imports into India 125.85, total 182.02
  • 2021-22: exports 69.95, imports 357.58, total 427.53
  • 2022-23: exports 85.84, imports 643.36, total 729.20
  • 2023-24: exports 70.06, imports 471.86, total 541.93
  • 2024-25: exports 70.38, imports 363.17, total 433.55
  • 2025-26: exports 73.39, imports 616.31, total 689.70

India primarily imports vegetable oils, minerals and ores, wood and wooden articles, copper, and pearls and semi-precious stones from PNG. India's exports to PNG include drugs and pharmaceuticals, iron and steel articles, footwear, motor vehicles, plastics and linoleum, machinery and mechanical appliances, chemicals, electronic items, textiles, spices and building materials.

Trade and investment contacts

On 7 December 2025, Hon. Richard Maru, Minister for International Trade and Investment, met Hon. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, in Mumbai to discuss strengthening trade and investment relations, including cooperation in the energy sector. On 25 September 2023, Coffee Minister Joe Kuli attended the World Coffee Conference in India, where he inaugurated the International Coffee Exhibition.