As we mark another EU Day 2024, it is a moment of profound reflection and celebration of the impactful developments made under the EU-funded UN-joint STREIT PNG Programme. This initiative stands as the largest grant-funded project by the European Union in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, a beacon of developmental change and empowerment in the Sepik region.

EU-STREIT PNG Programme officially inaugurated the Yawasoro-Niewanjie Road in Wewak, Papua New Guinea, rehabilitated by ILO as part of transport infrastructure component of the Programme. This transformative project, inaugurated by high-level officials, improves accessibility for over 2,200 residents, boosting rural connectivity, economic growth, and access to markets and essential social and health services.

Under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, the FAO and ITU conducted a key business management and online marketing workshop in Ambunti, empowering local MSMEs owners, farming groups leaders, and entrepreneurs.

In Wewak, Papua New Guinea, an initiative by FAO and ITU under EU-STREIT PNG is transforming local vanilla farmers into international vendors. Through e-commerce and digital innovations, these farmers are now connected with high-end markets abroad, significantly enhancing their economic outcomes. 

In a strategic collaboration, the FAO, under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, partners with East and West Sepik Provincial Administrations to enhance fisheries expertise, aiming to improve extension services throughout the region.

FAO and IPA organized a two-day conference on Geographical Indications (GIs), gathering stakeholders to discuss establishment up a GI framework in the country to enhance the global marketability of local products.

The EU-STREIT PNG Programme, in strategic partnership with the East Sepik Provincial Government and Administration, has showcased the critical role of women in sustainable development and economic resilience, underlining a shared dedication to gender equality and women's empowerment as vital for the region's socio-economic well-being.