CIMC commences 2026 national development forum on Reset @50
Over 100 participants gathered in Port Moresby on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, for the Consultative Implementation Monitoring Council’s annual flagship event, the 2026 National Development Forum, at Dr. Momis Hall at Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance [SILAG]
The three-day forum is on the theme “Unpacking the Reset@50 Agenda – What Must We Do Better in the Next 50 Years”.
The event will see representatives of the four regions validate the findings of the Regional Development Forums, debate national priorities with senior leaders, and endorse a unified set of recommendations submitted through the CIMC Council. Chaired by the Minister for National Planning & Monitoring, the council sponsors these recommendations onward to the National Executive Council [NEC], ensuring citizens' voices directly inform national planning, budgeting, and policy implementation.
Institute of National Affairs Executive Director Paul Barker gave the opening remarks and purpose of the forum. Reflecting on PNG's 50-year journey, he emphasized that the Reset@50 review focuses on examining where the nation has come from and charting its course for the next half-century.
"It was brought together because where has PNG gone, and where is it going to go in the next 50 years? And the review that was undertaken highlighted what many of us know," Barker said.
He told participants that over the next few days, they would hear numerous presentations and have the opportunity to provide feedback throughout. Towards the end, feedback from the regions will be integrated through presentations on the outcomes of their respective forums.
First Secretary for the Ministry of Planning and Monitoring, Uvenama Rova, delivered remarks on behalf of Sir Ano Pala, Chairman for CIMC and Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, urging participants to formulate actionable resolutions.
"So let us ponder during this forum. Let us come up with constructive resolutions which we can manage and which we can implement.
"I believe civil society always provides challenges; many times, these challenges are not constructive, but are more complaints. As the Minister responsible for national planning, it is important that I see things happening before we talk about them. In Rigo, as a leader, I have done things first and then talked about them in the National Executive Council," Mr. Rova said on behalf of Sir Ano Pala.
A highlight of the forum will be the presentation and debate of 15 consolidated national recommendations. Shaped directly by citizens at the regional level, these recommendations aim to address national priorities and guide both provincial and national leadership.
As the culmination of the 2026 Public Development Forum series, this national event concludes the public development forum series for the year. The four Regional Development Forums were held between March and June 2026 in Kokopo, Madang, Mt. Hagen, and Popondetta.
The final endorsed recommendations from the three day forum will be submitted to Prime Minister James Marape at the Official Closing of the Forum on Monday, 14 September 2026.