The Papua New Guinea Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PNG EITI) National Secretariat has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Office of the Auditor-General (AGO) aimed at strengthening participation and effective collaboration among government reporting agencies to enhance quality data in EITI reports.
Executive Director of PNGEITI, George Kauli and Auditor-General Gordon Kega signed the MOU on 28th November, 2025 in Port Moresby.
The signing of the MOU is an important step towards improving the quality of revenue data from the extractive sector.
The MOU enables the Auditor General’s office to undertake the Agreed Upon Procedure (AUP) of testing receipts of the revenue data provided by government entities for 2024 PNGEITI Report and beyond, providing assurances and reliability of the revenue data.
Mr. Kauli said “this exercise (signing of MOU) is part of the government’s commitment to ensure accurate and transparent reporting of revenue flows from the extractive industries as required under the National Government’s policy for transformation and accountability in the extractive sector in PNG and involving EITI standards and requirement”.
Mr. Kauli expressed his gratitude to the Japanese International Cooperation, thanking JICA for coming onboard with both financial and technical support for this project.
Mr. Kauli thanked the two beneficiaries of this project, the National Petroleum Authority and the Office of the Attorney General.
He also thanked government reporting agencies such as Internal Revenue Commission, Mineral Resource Authority, the National Petroleum Authority, PNG Customs, Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Department of Treasury and Conservation Environment Protection Authority.
Mr. Kauli described the signing of the MOU as a huge milestone achievement in the implementation of the project.
“The project now looks forward to foster institutional strengthening and include more capacity building for the eight AGO staff, NPA and the National Secretariate officers as well and also to increase AUP testing on all government entities,” he said.
Auditor-General Gordon Kega said he was pleased to sign the MOU, describing it as a “significant milestone” that will strengthen accountability in PNG’s resource sector. He said the partnership fits well with the AGO’s responsibility to protect public funds and to ensure the country’s natural wealth is properly managed.
“This MOU shows our shared commitment to transparency. Working together allows us to make sure the revenue from our extractive industries is properly accounted for and used for the good of our people,” Mr. Kega said.
He added that the partnership with PNG EITI is more than just a technical arrangement as is an important step towards improving public trust, strengthening government systems, and supporting better governance.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which funds Phase 2 of the Project for Improving Resource Related Revenue Management, welcomed the signing as an important achievement.
Chief JICA representative in PNG, Hideaki Matsuoka said JICA is excited to be part of this milestone as stronger partnership between PNGEITI and AGO as a result of the MOU will help improve the sharing of information across government agencies.
Deputy Secretary for Economic policy at the Department of Treasury and Acting Chair of the PNGEITI Main Stakeholder Group, John Uware earlier made welcome representatives from JICA Office, AGO and other government departments to this milestone occasion.
“The PNG Department of Treasury, which facilitates the implementation of EITI Standard in PNG will render its continued support to achieve the agreed outcomes and we look forward to successful execution of this Understanding,” said Mr. Uware.
