Blue Economy Enterprise Incubation Facility

Developing and nurturing Papua New Guinea’s blue economy for sustainable ocean-based livelihoods.

The blue economy in PNG

Thousands of people depend economically on Papua 
New Guinea’s remarkable marine resources and biodiversity. 
A blue economy approach offers the potential for business development and thriving sustainable livelihoods, while protecting, conserving, and restoring irreplaceable 
marine ecosystems.
PNG offers rich opportunities for investment and funding in blue economy sectors, including untapped potential in eco-tourism, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, reef-positive infrastructure development and climate-proofing, sustainable marine product development, low-waste and low-pollution alternatives, improved waste management practices, and more.

Many small and medium enterprises are already tackling these challenges, some with the support of the UNDP and the BE-EIF. Further investment, capacity-building, and innovative public-private partnerships have the potential to turn Papua New Guinea into a blue economy powerhouse through emergent blue businesses, women in business, and reef-positive enterprises.
Small-to-medium enterprises contribute 10% to the GDP
PNG’s EEZ covers over 3 million 
square kilometres
PNG is recognised
as one of 17 global “megadiverse” countries
88% of PNG’s territory 
is covered by ocean
24% of PNG’s population live within 10km of its 17,000km coastline

UNDPs recommendations to support the blue economy in Papua New Guinea

UNDPs recommendations to
support the Blue Economy in
Papua New Guinea

The UNDP is active in developing the blue economy in PNG, currently driven through its Gutpela Solwara, Gutpela Bisnis project (GSGB). Meaning “Good Oceans, Good Business” in the local tok ples language, GSGB aims to build capacity and sustainability for small-to-medium blue economy enterprises, including facilitating private investment, mentorship, and business development.
The BE-EIF is the UNDP’s key strategy for blue business development. The BE-EIF acts as a business incubator, in line with PNG’s Blue Economy Investment Strategy (BEIS) and the Government of PNG’s focus on growing small and medium enterprises. Through the BE-EIF, reef-positive ventures are identified and nurtured, creating new investment opportunities in a largely untapped market.

Life below water

The 14th UN Sustainable Development Goal, “Life Below Water”, calls for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. The UNDP’s blue economy development work in PNG directly supports SDG14 by identifying, nurturing, and funding sustainable business opportunities that demonstrate positive impacts on the region’s oceans.
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