PNG Pays Tribute to Sir Hugo Berghuser, Founder of Ox & Palm, Dead at 91

Papua New Guinea is paying tribute to Sir Hugo Berghuser, the founder of Ox & Palm and a respected businessman, politician, and philanthropist, who passed away peacefully in Wewak at the age of 91.
Born in Germany in 1934, Sir Hugo endured the 1958 sinking of the migrant ship Skaubryn before eventually making PNG his permanent home. Starting with carpentry and farming, he laid the foundation for what would become a lifetime of achievements.

He went on to establish Sapphire Smallgoods, Ox & Palm, and Triple 7 — enterprises that became widely recognized across PNG and created employment opportunities while driving local economic growth.
Sir Hugo entered politics in 1987, first serving as Minister for Lands and Tourism and later as Minister for Civil Aviation, where he oversaw key infrastructure projects and advanced community development.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989 and honored by both British and German governments for his outstanding contributions. He is survived by Lady Christa, their son Marc, and daughter Jasmin. Funeral details are yet to be released.

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