EXPO 2027: PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A COUNTRY WHERE MORE THAN 850 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN AND ONE OF THE PLANET’S LAST GREAT WILDERNESSES IS PRESERVED

Papua New Guinea is one of the 141 international participants that have so far confirmed their participation in Expo 2027 Belgrade, where it will showcase a country with the greatest linguistic diversity on the planet, the world’s third-largest rainforest and cultures that have preserved their authenticity for centuries. It is home to more than 850 living languages, accounting for around 12 per cent of all languages spoken in the world today, while each of its hundreds of tribes maintains its own customs, songs, dances and art. Its most striking traditions include the Baining fire dance, the Huli Wigmen, recognisable by their elaborate wigs decorated with bird-of-paradise feathers, and sing-sing gatherings, where communities present themselves through traditional dances, painted faces and colourful costumes. More than two thirds of the country is covered by rainforests, while its waters form part of the Coral Triangle, known as the “Amazon of the Ocean”. Birds of paradise, rare plant and animal species and the world’s largest butterfly are part of the biodiversity that makes this country one of the planet’s most important natural areas.

Papua New Guinea is also a country of major scientific discoveries. At the Kuk site, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, evidence has been found that organised agriculture developed in this area between 7,000 and 9,000 years ago, independently of other parts of the world. Researchers continue to discover new plant and animal species, confirming that the country is one of the world’s last great natural laboratories. Rugby league is the official national sport and a symbol of identity connecting communities across the country, while Papua New Guinea is also known for its highland coffee and mumu, a ceremonial meal prepared in an earth oven. Serbia and Papua New Guinea established diplomatic relations in 1976, and its participation in Expo 2027 Belgrade represents a new opportunity to strengthen cooperation and present its cultural and natural heritage to a global audience. “Papua New Guinea reminds us that the richness of the world rests in its diversity,” said Danilo Jerinić, Director of EXPO 2027 d.o.o. Belgrade. Following its appearances at exhibitions in Yeosu, Milan, Astana, Dubai and Osaka, it will present visitors in Belgrade with a country where rainforests, oceans and centuries-old traditions intertwine with contemporary ideas.