PNG Today Magazine

13/05/2025

09/05/2025

Bright lights, big problems: hardship hits career dreams of Pacific youth

Jim Pia is awake at five each morning to catch the first bus into the city. Daily, the 20-year-old fights for a space on the bus from the Bushwara settlement, on the outskirts of Port Moresby, to ensure he is on time to secure a place within the capital’s Gordons Market. From 8am, when the market gates open, to late in the afternoon, Pia quietly sells his wares – men’s and women’s shoes. This, unintentionally, has become his daily routine.
“It’s been two years since I completed my studies and came to Port Moresby in search of my dream,” he tells the Guardian from his stall.
Having finished year 12, Pia took his education further, completing a diploma in sales and marketing from Kokopo Business College on Papua New Guinea’s New Britain Island. He is saving to pay for a degree course.
But Pia can still not secure a steady job in Port Moresby despite scores of applications and dozens of interviews.
He is one among thousands of young Papua New Guineas who have left rural areas for the bright lights of the big city.
Pia is also characteristic of the Pacific’s youthful demographic, known as the “youth bulge” , which could prove a dividend for growth and development, or a timebomb that threatens civil unrest and instability, a new Lowy Institute report argues.
The Pacific is one of the youngest regions on earth – fully half of the region is aged under 23 – and it will remain young for decades to come. With birth rates in some nations nearly double the global average, the youth bulge is not expected to peak until the middle of the century.

This a story I wrote for The Guardian five years ago. Seeing number of graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions, one wonders what the future holds for the future generation. I revisited the story as a reflection and to encourage those who in similar situation to continue pursuing your dreams despite the temporarily situation facing you. The character in this story, Jim Pia is now a sales Manager based in Mt Hagen, WHP serving the Highlands region. Jim never gave up. Click on the link below to read more.

Papua New Guinea is particularly hard hit, with a huge young demographic that faces few prospects without sufficient skills and education

29/04/2025

TOVEBAE INITIATES PLANTING OF 350,000 COCOA SEEDLINGS TO REVIVE RURAL ECONOMY

Papua New Guinea, despite a challenging external environment, the economy outlook remains broadly positive. World Bank’s April 2024 forecast attributes this to a strong performance in the non-extractive sector, with agriculture as one of the key contributors to PNG’s economic recovery and long term prosperity.
PNG has had a real non-resource growth of 4.2% in 2021, 5.9% in 2022, 4.7% in 2023, 4.5% in 2024 and expecting to hit 5.2% in 2025, according to the 2025 National Budget figures shared by the Department of Treasury.
With consecutive growth recorded in the non-resource sector since 2021 with agriculture emerging as a key contributor in PNG’s economy recovery and long term prosperity, hardworking Papua New Guineans are silently getting their hands dirty in the agriculture sector to drive this forward.
Morris Tovebae is among the many Papua New Guineans who is working hard to contribute to the growing agriculture sector. Mr. Tovebae early last year (2024) initiated 350,000 cocoa seedlings in 12 Binadere wards 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and Tamata local level government, Sohe electorate in Oro Province and delivered 20,000 seedlings/nurseries and the will to deliver the remaining wards 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 will be delivered this year ( 2025) to revive the rural economy. Mr. Tovebae who is also the General Secretary of the ruling Pangu Party did not just stop there, he extended the same gesture, presenting 20,000 cocoa seedlings to Asapa Ward 20 in Kokoda LLG also in Sohe electorate and furthermore Mr. Tovebae went beyond Sohe district to deliver to Tumari village ward 16 and Uiaku village ward 3 in Tufi in the Ijivitari district by delivering 20,000 seedlings/ nurseries each.

“Lack of government presence, lack of income earning and employment opportunities in the outback is the cause of law order problems. I’m stepping beyond, to help these people to empower them so that they can improve their way of life especially basic health and education and contribute to the growth of the economy,” said Mr. Tovebae.

Cocoa is the third most important cash crop in PNG netting millions for the national economy. In 2024 ANZ Research predicted export revenue for PNG cocoa to reach 4.3 billion kina, a jump of 31.4 % on the previous corresponding period. This year (2025), ANZ Research expects export revenue for cocoa to fall to 3.3 billion kina as crop shortages ease and prices begin to reflect a more balanced market but cocoa takes up to five years to bear fruit and Tovebae’s hard work should pay off by late 2027 and early 2028 when prices are on the rebound. Hundreds of youths, mothers and general villagers who are actively involved in this project are expected to reap the fruits of their labour by late 2027 and 2028. PNG, being one of the highest levels of income inequality in Asia and the Pacific and a huge geographical divide too with 94% of PNG's population living in rural areas, poor roads between farms and national and international markets, coupled with the high cost of finance, have held back development in most rural areas.
Mr. Tovebae comes from a rural area where it has missed out on many development opportunities. Unfair distribution of wealth from successive governments, coupled with poor leadership has been the cause. Mr. Tovebae has seen enough and has taken it upon himself to bring change to his place. Mr. Tovebae explained the project was his initiative and not from their local member nor the provincial governor.
“I urged you all to stop listening to empty promises from the politicians and candidates and concentrate on this project. Time for listening to empty promises from politicians and candidates is over. It’s time for you to get their hands dirty and reap the fruits of your labour,” he told his village people during the launching of the project.
The general secretary had set his sights high in funding facilities such as cocoa fementary, rice mill, establish an extension centre among others but he realized that in order for such project to be successful, law and order must be addressed first. During the 2023, Christmas, Tovebae engaged police Southern Command to w**d out every law and order problem in his area. Youths surrendered homemade guns and homebrew making utensils as a result.
Having delivered the cocoa project through the Cocoa Board PNG Southern Region Popondetta office and ensuring that law and order is well maintained, Tovebae has set his sights high to unit the people through sports, soccer in particular. He has purchased trophy cups for wards 12, 13,14, 15,16 and 17 of which the cups are named after pioneer LLG leaders, elders of respective communities and local soccer stars who once grazed the soccer fields in the years gone by. Through sporting activities, Tovebae aims to identify talents in the jungles and provide a pathway for them to advance in respective sporting codes. PNG Sports Foundation has come onboard and brought the first batch of sports administrators to Port Moresby and facilitated one week of OSEP training and help to set up Binadere sports association Inc with plans underway to bring 2nd, 3rd and fourth batch sports administrators for further training. . Part of his aim is to take advantage of the Chinese government sports program where sponsorships are available for sportsmen and women. This is through the partnership with Chinese Sports International Co LTD whereby Tovebae intends to send players from the jungle to China for short and long term training.

The projects and sporting events initiated by Tovebae are a token of appreciation from the Pangu led government for his loyalty and dedication in serving Pangu party from the verge of collapse to a ruling party.