ADB Papua New Guinea

28/08/2026

The future of air travel is arriving in Milne Bay.

Following its PGK76.8 million upgrade, Gurney Airport can accommodate Airbus A220 aircraft at full capacity. This is an important step towards safer, more reliable and more efficient air services for Milne Bay Province and Papua New Guinea.

Modern aircraft need modern airports. Strengthened pavement, improved airfield facilities and upgraded airport systems will help Gurney support the changing needs of Papua New Guinea’s aviation sector while creating new possibilities for passenger travel, tourism and trade.

The Gurney Airport investment complements the Asian Development Bank’s nonsovereign support for Air Niugini’s fleet modernisation. Together, ADB’s sovereign and nonsovereign operations are helping bring modern airports, modern aircraft and stronger aviation institutions into one integrated system.

28/08/2026

In Palau, an ADB-led program is is improving health, incomes and safety, helping older people and people with disabilities access wellness activities and home-based music therapy. It is also supporting 20 women’s cooperatives to grow and sell more taro, while strengthening services for people affected by family and gender-based violence - including a free 24-hour hotline, crisis counselling and referrals.

Supported by grants from the governments of Ireland and Japan, the program is helping communities improve their health, incomes and safety and become more resilient for the future.

27/08/2026

For communities across Milne Bay Province, better air connectivity means better access to markets, essential services and economic opportunities.

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has officially opened the upgraded Gurney Airport, a PGK76.8 million investment designed to strengthen the province’s connections with the rest of Papua New Guinea and the wider region.

The project delivered a new passenger terminal, asphalt surfacing and pavement repairs, airfield ground lighting, car-parking facilities, and improved power, water and sewerage systems. These improvements will help provide safer and more reliable air services while supporting tourism, trade, investment and local business development.

Gurney Airport is the first project completed under the Asian Development Bank-funded Civil Aviation Development Investment Program II. The achievement reflects ADB’s long-standing partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea to develop safer, more resilient and more inclusive aviation infrastructure.

20/08/2026

What happens when the ship carrying essential supplies can’t reach Niue? Or when the airport families rely on for urgent medical referrals is disrupted?

For one of the Pacific’s most isolated nations, staying connected matters to everyday life.
Food and medicine arrive through Niue’s wharf and airport. People depend on them for urgent supplies and medical referrals, while the island’s roads provide vital connections between communities.

But as extreme weather puts growing pressure on these lifelines, Niue is looking ahead.
Working with the Government of Niue and local communities, ADB is helping map where transport infrastructure is most vulnerable to disasters and identify practical ways to keep essential connections functioning during emergencies.

“We're combining technical analysis with local knowledge to build a clearer picture of how disasters affect the island,” says ADB Pacific Department Director General Emma Veve.

“What this means is that the community will have the information that they need to know how best to respond in an emergency to keep the transport network open.”

And as Robin Hekau, Director of the Niue Disaster Management Office, puts it:
“We are also known as the Rock of Polynesia. But that little rock is our home.”

Better information and forward planning can’t stop the next cyclone but they can help Niue prepare, respond and recover — and keep this island home connected for generations to come.

19/08/2026

Across the Federated States of Micronesia, women are building businesses, creating jobs and generating income for their families and communities.
But getting the finance to take the next step — buying equipment, expanding operations or investing in new opportunities — can be difficult.
A new partnership between ADB and the Federated States of Micronesia Development Bank aims to help more women make that next move.
Through a $5 million financing package, more funding will be made available to small and medium-sized businesses across FSM, with at least half going to women-led enterprises. At least 250 women-led businesses will also receive training, while FSMDB will develop a financial product specifically designed with women entrepreneurs in mind.
“Women entrepreneurs are critical to the growth and resilience of the Federated States of Micronesia’s economy,” said ADB North Pacific Advisor Aziz Haydarov.
“This initiative will help address longstanding barriers faced by women entrepreneurs and allow them to reach their full potential, delivering powerful benefits for their businesses, households, and the broader economy.”
It’s also a milestone for ADB: its first private sector project in FSM — supporting women entrepreneurs and helping build a stronger, more inclusive private sector.

04/08/2026

Join ADB and help us shape the future of development in Asia and the Pacific. Explore our latest career opportunities and apply today:
Assistant Treasurer: https://ow.ly/BujU50Zt3by
Principal Private Sector Development Specialist: https://ow.ly/7Rce50Zt3bx
Gender Officer: https://ow.ly/RUk850Zt3bz
Finance and Administration Officer: https://ow.ly/zHz850Zt3bu
Investment Officer: https://ow.ly/cuSW50Zt3bE See less

28/07/2026

Water is life—for people, nature, and food systems.
Yet billions of people across Asia and the Pacific still lack access to clean, safe, and reliable water.
Solving this means investing more, managing water better, and making sure no one is left behind.
Read our report to learn more:

2.7 billion people in Asia and the Pacific, or about 60% of the region’s population, have been lifted from the most extreme forms of water insecurity since 2013. This means that they now have access to basic water and sanitation or are safer from floods and droughts.

13/07/2026

10/07/2026

What's shaping the region's economic outlook?

Higher energy prices. Supply chain disruptions. Global uncertainty.

ADB's latest Asian Development Outlook explains how these challenges are shaping growth across developing Asia and the Pacific—and what they could mean for the region's economic outlook.

The July update forecasts slower regional growth as higher energy prices, supply chain disruptions and ongoing geopolitical tensions weigh on economies across the region. Inflation is also expected to remain elevated.

Despite these headwinds, the region continues to be supported by strong domestic demand, investment and economic resilience.

The report highlights the importance of sound economic policies that protect vulnerable households, support sustainable growth and strengthen resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.

For Pacific Island economies, maintaining resilience while navigating global economic uncertainty will remain critical as governments continue investing in sustainable, inclusive development.

Read the July update to the Asian Development Outlook:

ADB has lowered its growth forecast for developing Asia and the Pacific economies to 4.9% for 2026 compared to 5.5% growth in 2025. This is a reduction of 0.2 percentage points from April projections.

09/07/2026

From cyclones and storm surges to earthquakes and flooding, Pacific countries face some of the world’s highest disaster risks. And recovery can take years.
That’s why new partnerships matter.
ADB and the Government of Japan have announced a new financing partnership facility to help countries across Asia and the Pacific strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience before disasters happen.
For Pacific communities, this can mean:
🌴 Faster recovery after disasters
🏥 Stronger hospitals, schools, and essential services
⚡ More resilient infrastructure and power systems
🌊 Better financial protection against climate and disaster shocks
The new PREPARE facility will also support Pacific-focused initiatives, helping countries access faster and more reliable disaster risk financing when communities need it most.
In the Pacific, resilience is not abstract — it’s about protecting lives, keeping services running, and helping communities rebuild stronger.
🔗 Read more: https://www.adb.org/.../adb-japan-announce-new-financing...