Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, June 6, 2025 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), has officially launched the PNG Greenpreneurs Initiative in Port Moresby. This milestone launch event, held under the DFAT-funded Climate Finance for Resilience, Innovation and Sustainable Transition (FIRST) Project, marks a strong commitment to empowering over 250 aspiring green entrepreneurs across seven provinces, which include Eastern Highlands, Enga, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, New Ireland, and Simbu. Over the next three years, the PNG Greenpreneurs Initiative, as a key component of the Climate FIRST project, will be supporting climate-smart micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through business incubation, seed funding, capacity building, and ecosystem partnerships

The event was opened with remarks from representatives of the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA), DFAT, and GGGI, followed by a high-level panel discussion on the theme: “The Challenges and Future of Green Entrepreneurship in PNG.” Panelists included government representatives, financial institutions, implementation partners, and MSMEs from the Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network alumni.

During her keynote address, Minister-Counsellor for Economics and Infrastructure for the Australian High Commission, Dr. Cate Rogers reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting inclusive green economic growth in PNG and officially opened the PNG Greenpreneurs Initiative.

“We are proud to launch this exciting opportunity for emerging green entrepreneurs in our partner provinces,” said Dr. Cate Rogers. “The incubator program will provide targeted support to help participants grow their climate-smart business ideas in alignment with PNG’s SME policy,” Dr. Rogers added.

GGGI Deputy Country Representative for PNG, Mr. Miguel Angel Mendez Castellanos emphasized the need for enabling environments and inclusive support systems. “At GGGI, we believe that the future of PNG’s green transition lies with its entrepreneurs, those who are solving problems in their own communities, building resilient businesses, and creating jobs that also protect people and the planet. The PNG Greenpreneurs Initiative through its Incubator and Accelerator Program is designed to support those who are changemakers. It is also a part of a broader vision to build a national green enterprise ecosystem – one that is practical, inclusive and built for scale which is possible through strong partnerships.”

A major highlight of this event was the official launch of the PNG Greenpreneurs Incubator Call for Applications, inviting early-stage entrepreneurs from Eastern Highlands, Enga, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, New Ireland, and Simbu. Acting Managing Director for Climate Change and Development Authority, Ms. Debra Sungi spoke about the linkage between the Initiative and the national development and climate policy priorities.

“The PNG Greenpreneurs Initiative is a powerful example of how we can bring our national climate policies to life by empowering local entrepreneurs to become agents of change. At CCDA, we are committed to ensuring that our Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term strategies are not just policy documents, but drivers of inclusive, climate-resilient development. This initiative supports that vision by turning ambition into action – creating green jobs, fostering innovation, and building resilience from the ground up. It is through such partnerships, grounded in national priorities and driven by local solutions, that we will achieve a sustainable future for Papua New Guinea.”

To ensure inclusive participation, the launch event was also simultaneously connected across all seven target provinces, with stakeholders, financial institutions, provincial representatives and MSMEs joining via livestream from designated venues in the seven provinces. This multi-location setup reflects the nationwide reach and collaborative spirit of the PNG Greenpreneurs Initiative.

In introducing the PNG Greenpreneurs Initiative, Ms. Roshika Gaunder, Green Entrepreneurship Lead for GGGI said, “this is more than just an initiative, it’s a movement to nurture innovation, resilience, and opportunity through climate-smart enterprises which contributes to improving livelihoods for many generations,” The Greenpreneurs Initiative supports PNG’s national climate and economic priorities, including the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Green Taxonomy, the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and MSME development strategies. It also aims to strengthen institutional collaboration with agencies such as the SME Corporation, Credit Guarantee Corporation and Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion, ensuring long term sustainability and scale.

Through Climate FIRST project, GGGI and its partners are also supporting the government’s capacity to develop bankable climate finance proposals and mobilize public and private investment, with strong emphasis on gender equality, disability and social inclusion, and youth participation. Participants also heard from Esther Daniels, Pacific Greenpreneurs alumni and Co-founder of Tehine Trend, who shared how the program helped transform her business into a cultural and environmental impact venture.

The launch of the PNG Greenpreneurs Initiative demonstrates the strength of the partnership between GGGI, the Government of Papua New Guinea and Australia, investing in a future where entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability drive climate resilience and inclusive development.

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Kelly Vacala | GGGI Regional Communications and Knowledge Sharing Lead | kelly.vacala@gggi.org