The newly rehabilitated Mariama Airstrip was officially inaugurated on Monday, 28 April 2025, marking a significant step forward in connecting remote communities in the Karawari Rural LLG, East Sepik Province. This vital infrastructure project, restored by Papua New Guinea’s Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the European Union-funded Programme for Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade (EU-STREIT PNG), promises to enhance access to essential services and economic opportunities for over 19,500 people.

A vital lifeline for remote communities
Located in a region where geographical remoteness makes transportation extremely difficult, the Mariama Airstrip serves as a critical lifeline for 10 communities. Its reopening facilitates crucial access to emergency health services via providers like Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), enables the delivery of school supplies, allows for the efficient transport of valuable agricultural products like vanilla to markets, and supports governance and administrative mobility. This enhanced connectivity provides a bridge to opportunity, directly supporting the aims of the EU's Global Gateway strategy by fostering sustainable transport links to improve local economies and livelihoods.

Rehabilitation: upgrades and local employment
The rehabilitation work, budgeted at PGK 807,671.15, transformed the airstrip into a resilient, all-weather facility. Key improvements included reinforcing the 680-meter runway to make it stronger and safer for aircraft landings, upgrading the drainage system to prevent flooding during heavy rains, and installing essential markers to guide pilots during daytime operations. This ensures the airstrip can reliably support small fixed-wing aircraft vital for the region. Furthermore, the project adopted an Employment-Intensive Approach advocated by the ILO, creating approximately 10,000 person-days of decent paid work for local men and women during the rehabilitation phase, providing immediate income and valuable skills development opportunities.

High-level support and partnership in action
The inauguration ceremony underscored the project's significance, attended by high-level delegation including representatives from national government agencies, East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, the EU Ambassador Jacques Fradin, the United Nations Resident Coordinator Richard Howard, and the ILO Director for Pacific Island Countries Martin Wandera. 
Addressing the inauguration event, the Governor of East Sepik Province, Allan Bird, stated, "My sincere thanks to RAA, DNPM, the UN system, FAO, and especially the European Union for this successful STREIT Project – the largest EU-funded project in the South Pacific for East and West Sepik. This achievement shows that large projects can yield positive results in Papua New Guinea. On behalf of the people of Greater Sepik, thank you, European Union.” 

EU-STREIT

EU Global Gateway Strategy in support for local prosperity
Speaking at the inauguration, Jacques Fradin, Ambassador of the European Union to Papua New Guinea, stated: "Today, as the European Union Ambassador to PNG, I am proud to celebrate the completion of the Mariama airstrip, the last of 5 airstrip rehabilitations made possible through the funding of the European Union under our Global Gateway Strategy. Over the past five years, the EU-STREIT PNG Programme has assisted thousands of farmers in East Sepik and West Sepik provinces. Efficient transport is crucial to ensure that cacao, vanilla, and fish produced with the support of the Programme can reach markets and customers far and wide. This milestone is a pivotal achievement, and its sustainability is crucial for our future."

Also speaking at the event, the UN Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea, Richard Howard, stated, "Our goal is improved lives and opportunities, especially for children in the Sepik. We deeply appreciate the European Union's generous support and commitment to communities like this, recognizing the need despite the region's natural wealth. This airstrip and the wider EU-STREIT PNG Programme, implemented by partners including FAO, ILO in this specific community, are crucial investments to develop key local products like cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries, grow the economy, and connect communities."

A regional vision takes flight
The Mariama Airstrip is one of five rural airstrips identified for rehabilitation under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme in East Sepik and West Sepik provinces. This broader initiative, which also includes work progressing at Moropte, Munduku, Okisai, and Warakori airstrips, aims to improve transport infrastructure for over 62,000 people, generate 40,000 person-days of work, and create climate-resilient enablers for the cocoa, vanilla, and fishery value chains targeted by the Programme.

The support to sustainable infrastructure under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme is the first articulation of the roll-out of the EU Global Gateway Strategy in Papua New Guinea. This strategy supports both public and private sectors to invest in infrastructure with a focus on climate, green energy, sustainable transport, digitalisation, health, education and research in the European Union’s partner countries.

To ensure the airstrip's long-term operation and benefit to the community, the RAA, with support from the Programme, is training local Airstrip Maintenance Officers (AMOs) who will be responsible for the ongoing upkeep and ensuring safe operational standards are maintained.