THE Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru has praised the Pacific Balanced Fund’s strong financial performance and ongoing transformation. He described it a significant step in Papua New Guinea’s efforts to deepen its domestic capital markets and create investment opportunities for its people.
Minister Maru commended Weathermen Capital Advisors Limited, the Fund’s Trustee, for its stewardship of Pacific Balanced Fund, which has recorded substantial growth in profitability and net assets over the past three years. He particularly welcomed the Fund’s recent announcement of a K25 million dividend distribution to unitholders, calling it an important milestone in restoring investor confidence and delivering tangible returns to Papua New Guineans.
“This is exactly the kind of progress we want to see in our domestic capital market. Papua New Guineans must have the opportunity to share in the growth of our economy, to own investments, and to benefit directly from the wealth our country generates,” said Minister Maru.
The Minister also welcomed plans to modernise and rename the Fund, subject to unitholder and regulatory approvals expected in late November 2026.
“The proposed rebranding marks a new chapter in the development of our capital markets. It is an opportunity to establish a truly national investment vehicle that mobilises domestic savings and channels capital into the productive sectors of our economy,” he said.
Minister Maru further welcomed the Fund’s plans for a new capital raising in 2027, which will allow both existing and new investors to participate and support its continued expansion.
He challenged the Weathermen Capital Advisors Limited to set an ambitious target of growing asset values toward K1 billion by 2028, citing the significant liquidity in PNG’s financial system and the growing appetite for domestic investment opportunities.
“I believe K1 billion is achievable. Papua New Guinea has substantial domestic capital that can be mobilised and invested productively in our own economy. What we need are credible, well-governed investment vehicles to bring that capital together, and the renamed Fund has the potential to become one of them,” said Minister Maru.
He said the Government wanted to see more domestic investment institutions mobilising capital behind strategic national priorities, including infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, energy and property, as well as industries developed within the Special Economic Zones.
“Papua New Guinea has relied too heavily on foreign capital to finance its development for far too long. Moving forward, we must strengthen our domestic financial institutions and investment funds to mobilise local capital toward national development priorities. Our vision is for more Papua New Guineans to become owners of productive assets and beneficiaries of the country’s economic growth,” said Minister Maru.
Minister Maru acknowledged the work of Weathermen Capital Advisors Limited and the Securities Commission of Papua New Guinea—now known as the Capital Markets Commission—in modernising the Fund and strengthening its governance and regulatory framework.
He expressed confidence that Pacific Balanced Fund’s transformation and its planned capital raising would contribute meaningfully to the growth of Papua New Guinea’s capital markets.
“The future of Papua New Guinea must not only be about attracting foreign investment. It must also be about empowering our own people to become investors, asset owners, and partners in building our nation’s wealth. We must not continue to be spectators in our own land,” Minister Maru concluded.