PM trips scrutiny

Prime Minister James Marape has undertaken more than 10 international engagements this year , with concerns raised over the cost of these travels.

Critics allege these trips will have cost the country millions of kinas.

These engagements began in Switzerland in January, where the Prime Minister attended the World Econimic Forum in Davos, then onto United Arab Emirates for the World Government Summit in Dubai.

In May , Mr Marape flew to France and held bilateral talks with President Emmanuel Macron and then to China for economic and bilateral dicussions in Guangdong Province.

A number of trips followed in July , which included the Annual Leaders Dialogue in Indonesia and Japan for the Pacific Islands Leaders meeting.

The Prime Minister also visited its closest partner Australia for the PNG Australia Annual Leaders Dialogue and related economic and sports engagements - trips of which continued to August.

Back in the region , Mr Marape travelled on two seperate occasions to the Solomon Islands, as part of his official state visit and also the inaugural PNG-Solomon Islands Investment summit.

He also participated in Vanuatu's 41st independence anniversary when he traveled across in July and Palau for the 55th Pacific Islands Leaders meeting.

A week after attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York , the Prime Minister was off to Tuvalu for Pre - COP 31 , ahead of the conference in Türkiye, next month.

While critics and Opposition leaders have expressed concerns on how millions in tax payers funds are being spent on these trips , which they say do not produce positive outcomes, they are demanding independent audits.

The Prime Minister has defended this.

He says as the head of government these overseas engagements are necessary for the country to secure bilateral , trade and investment for the country.

"These are necessary visits that at the head of Government level, we need to attend.

"Those visits enable relationship within two Nations to flourish," PM Marape said.