SOVEREIGNTY IN ACTION AS MARAPE-ROSSO GOVERNMENT DELIVERS LANDMARK UK-PNG MOU's FOR LAWFUL DEVELOPMENT AND FOREST GOVERNANCE

Amb UK, Planning Minister and MD PNGFA

Signing With Purpose As PNG And UK Forge A Decade Of Legal, Sustainable Progress In Forest And Development Cooperation

The signing of two landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the United

Kingdom and Papua New Guinea during our 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations marks a pivotal moment in our sovereign journey. These agreements one on Development Cooperation and the other on Forest Governance Foundations are not merely diplomatic gestures. They are instruments of lawful progress, institutional renewal, and generational stewardship.

For five decades, the UK and PNG have cooperated across development, education, and governance. The UK-PNG Development Cooperation MoU, signed by Hon. Sir Ano Pala, Minister for National Planning & Monitoring, and UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West MP, formalises this enduring relationship. It provides a legal and strategic framework for future programme-level agreements, enabling targeted support in infrastructure, climate resilience, and institutional reform. This MoU is not abstract. It is actionable. It empowers our Government to negotiate sector-specific partnerships with confidence, transparency, and statutory clarity and hallmarks of a mature democracy.

The second MoU, signed between the PNG Forest Authority and the UK’s Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) Programme, launches a decade-long cooperation to strengthen forest governance. This is a governance milestone. It affirms PNG’s sovereign commitment to exporting legal, traceable, and locally processed timber; unlocking access to global climate finance and ethical trade markets; and building institutional systems that reflect our constitutional values and environmental obligations.

This action is firmly grounded in law. The Constitution of Papua New Guinea, under the National Goals and Directive Principles, mandates the “wise use of natural resources and the environment for the collective benefit of all and for future generations” (Goal 4). Section 25 further affirms that these principles are integral to the interpretation and application of all laws and government policy. The Forestry Act 1991, which governs the conservation, development, and management of forest resources, establishes the PNG Forest Authority as the statutory body responsible for implementing forest policy. It requires Forest Management Agreements (FMAs) with customary landowners and mandates the preparation of a National Forest Plan as a prerequisite for new forestry projects. These provisions ensure that forest governance is not only participatory but legally enforceable.

In this context, special appreciation is extended to Mr. John Mosoro, Managing Director of the PNG Forest Authority, whose tireless leadership and technical foresight have been instrumental in securing this international partnership. Mr. Mosoro’s commitment to transparency, data integrity, and institutional strengthening has positioned PNGFA as a credible and reform-driven agency. His recent efforts to modernise export monitoring systems, resolve legacy disputes, and champion forest sector modelling initiatives with UK support reflect a deep understanding of both statutory obligations and global expectations. His stewardship ensures that PNG’s forests are not only protected but productively managed for the benefit of landowners, the State, and future generations.

Equally, sincere commendation is extended to the Marape-Rosso Government for its unwavering commitment to lawful governance, international diplomacy, and sustainable development. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso, PNG has demonstrated that sovereignty is best exercised through principled partnerships and transparent reform. The Government’s facilitation of this MoU alongside its broader efforts in budget repair, non-resource sector growth, and ESG-aligned governance reflects a strategic vision for PNG’s place in the global community. This landmark signing is a testament to their stewardship and to the enduring values of independence, integrity, and inclusive progress.

Strong forest governance is not just about trees, it is about trust. It is about ensuring that landowners, communities, and future generations benefit from lawful resource management. It is about showcasing PNG’s leadership in responsible forestry, not as a recipient of aid, but as a partner in global sustainability.

Bristish HIGHCOMM AND MD PNGFA

The Government of Papua New Guinea fully endorses these MoUs. They align with our national priorities under Connect PNG, the Medium-Term Development Plan IV, and our constitutional mandate to protect the environment for the “benefit of future generations.” Public sentiment echoes this support. Civil society, landowner groups, and youth leaders have welcomed the agreements as a sign of lawful progress and international respect. These MoUs reflect the kind of diplomacy PNG deserves one that is principled, referenced, and reform-oriented.

As we mark 50 years of independence, these agreements remind us that sovereignty is not static as it is exercised through law, partnership, and reform. The UK-PNG MoUs are not endpoints; they are foundations. They invite us to build systems that are audit-ready, landowner-inclusive, and globally respected. Let this be the beginning of a new chapter, where diplomacy is matched by delivery, and where our forests, institutions, and people thrive under the rule of law.