Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — Following the United Diplomatic Council’s (UDC) delegation to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, the Council convened its closed-door conference, “Vision 2026: Global Outlook,” in Abu Dhabi, continuing high-level dialogue on international cooperation, economic diplomacy, and evolving global trade priorities.
The forum convened representatives from over 25 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Pacific, and Latin America, creating a dynamic platform for multilateral engagement. Among the participating states, Papua New Guinea was represented by Mr. Karan Rana, Honorary Trade Commissioner for Papua New Guinea under the India Commonwealth Trade Council (ICTC), reflecting the country’s growing engagement in structured global trade forums.
Papua New Guinea offers a distinct economic profile shaped by its strategic Pacific location and its extensive natural resource base. The country holds substantial reserves of minerals and energy, alongside strong potential in forestry, fisheries, and agriculture. Over time, trade relations between Papua New Guinea and the United Arab Emirates have evolved steadily, with the UAE emerging as an important commercial gateway supporting access to markets across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Commenting on Papua New Guinea’s participation, Mr. Karan Rana, Honorary Trade Commissioner for Papua New Guinea under the India Commonwealth Trade Council (ICTC), stated:
“Papua New Guinea is increasingly focused on building structured, long-term trade partnerships that go beyond resource exchange and support value creation, capacity building, and sustainable development. Engagements such as Vision 2026 provide an important platform to align Papua New Guinea’s sectoral strengths with the UAE’s global trade and logistics capabilities, creating practical pathways for bilateral trade and investment.”
The UAE’s position as a global logistics, financial, and export hub presents tangible opportunities for Papua New Guinea to scale its international trade footprint. Sectors such as mining and energy, agro-processing, fisheries, infrastructure development, logistics, sustainable tourism, and healthcare services present promising avenues for deeper cooperation. Strengthened institutional coordination and trade facilitation can further support Papua New Guinea’s integration into global value chains, while enabling UAE-based enterprises to participate in long-term, development-driven initiatives in the Pacific region.
Commenting on the growing alignment between the two economies, Dr. Asif Iqbal, President of the United Diplomatic Council, stated:
“The trade relationship between Papua New Guinea and the United Arab Emirates has reached a stage where intent, opportunity, and global market access converge. With the UAE’s role as a trade gateway and Papua New Guinea’s resource and sectoral strengths, this is the right moment to translate dialogue into action and establish structured pathways for sustainable trade and investment.”
The Vision 2026 forum reaffirmed that contemporary economic diplomacy is increasingly shaped by continuity across global platforms, linking international discussions with regional and institutional engagement. Papua New Guinea’s participation reflected growing momentum toward deeper cooperation between Pacific economies and Middle Eastern trade hubs, supported by sustained dialogue and practical collaboration frameworks.
About the India Commonwealth Trade Council (ICTC)
The India Commonwealth Trade Council (ICTC) is a trade and policy facilitation body focused on strengthening commercial and institutional ties across Commonwealth nations and strategic partner regions. ICTC works closely with governments, industry leaders, and diplomatic missions to promote trade expansion, investment flows, market access, and policy dialogue. Through its network of trade commissioners and institutional partnerships, ICTC supports businesses and economies in navigating global markets and advancing sustainable international cooperation.
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