By KDDA in Focus

The National Cultural Commission (NCC) celebrated four key achievements at the opening of its new NCC Gift Shop, marking a significant step in preserving and promoting Papua New Guinea’s cultural heritage. Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Belden Namah, delivered the keynote address at the event, which was also attended by Kerowagi MP Francis Kikin Sune, alongside other VIPs and development partners. A strong supporter of the NCC’s latest developments, Mr. Sune has been closely consulting with the commission to stage the Kerowagi Cultural Show in early 2027.

Minister Namah praised the NCC’s work under CEO Steven Enomb Kilanda and highlighted the importance of inclusivity in the tourism sector. The four major announcements included the launch of both a physical and an online NCC Gift Shop, providing a global e-commerce platform for local artisans to sell authentic cultural artifacts.

A new cultural registration database was also unveiled to document and safeguard the country’s diverse traditions for future generations.

The most prominent announcement was that the locally produced feature film Papa Buka has been selected to represent Papua New Guinea at the Oscars. The minister confirmed government support and funding for the film’s campaign.

Concluding the event, Minister Namah outlined a transformative vision for the future, revealing plans to rename the NCC as the “PNG National Cultural Authority.” This change, alongside similar restructuring for other cultural agencies, aims to empower the bodies to generate their own revenue and become more financially self-sustaining, ensuring robust support for the nation’s cultural sectors as PNG approaches its 50th anniversary of independence.