PNG MPs Complete US Congressional Exchange Programme

 PNG MPs Complete US Congressional Exchange Programme/ Photo supplied

A delegation from Papua New Guinea’s National Parliament has completed a 10-day legislative exchange programme in the United States, gaining first-hand insights into parliamentary operations, local government administration, trade and cultural relations.

The programme, funded by the US Congress through the Congressional Office for International Leadership’s Open World initiative, brought PNG lawmakers and parliamentary officials into contact with American legislators, government representatives and institutions in Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.

The delegation spent its first week in Washington before travelling to Milwaukee, where the International Institute of Wisconsin hosted part of the programme. Members returned to Papua New Guinea on October 10.

In Washington, the delegation held engagements with staff of the US House of Representatives to learn about legislative processes and parliamentary support systems.

The group later travelled to Madison, Wisconsin, for meetings with the Wisconsin National Guard, local government officials and the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.

Discussions covered trade opportunities, city governance and cultural exchange. The university system’s engagement was particularly relevant following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the University of Papua New Guinea in May 2026.

The delegation comprised Assistant Speaker of the National Parliament and Goilala MP Casmiro Aia, Middle Fly MP Maso Mai Hewabi, North Fly MP James Donald, Bulolo MP and Vice Minister for Mining Sam Basil Jr, and Parliamentary Committee Secretariat executive director Werner Cohill.

The exchange also builds on earlier cooperation between Papua New Guinea and Wisconsin. In 2024, the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center worked with communities in Madang Province to locate the wreckage of an aircraft flown by American World War II pilot Major Richard Bong.

The discovery helped establish a sister-city relationship between Poplar in Wisconsin and Madang, creating another link between communities in the two countries.

The US Embassy in Port Moresby congratulated the parliamentary delegation on completing the programme, describing the exchange as an example of how direct engagement between people can develop into lasting partnerships.