PACER Plus: catching the pace on Pacific Free Trade [analysis]

Welcome,

The PACER Plus free trade agreement commences on 13 December 2020, revolutionising trade across the Pacific (although not Papua New Guinea yet). Additional countries are set to join the agreement in the coming months.

The export markets that matter to Papua New Guinea – and how they are changing

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What’s happening in Papua New Guinea’s three most important export markets? Demographer Bernard Salt says social trends in China, Australia and Japan will affect the business they do with PNG in the future, and present new opportunities.

Fiji and Papua New Guinea should strengthen economic ties, says ANZ economist

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Papua New Guinea could be on the cusp of a sustained period of strong economic growth, and Fiji should be seeking closer economic ties, says Kishti Sen, International Economist for the ANZ Banking Group, in an exclusive interview with Business Advantage PNG.

Archaeologists uncover new stories about Indigenous seagoing between Papua New Guinea and Australia

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A team of researchers have discovered evidence of trade between Papua New Guinea and Australia over 2,500 years prior to colonisation. Their findings will help unravel the forgotten shared history of PNG and Indigenous Australia across the Torres Strait. 

Lae businesspeople express concern at abuse of customs importing system

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Lae businesspeople have told a Customs Department forum they are deeply concerned about some importers abusing the system by under-reporting the value of their imports, or simply not declaring them. Lae Chamber of Commerce Executive member Keith Kingston says another issue highlighted was trade in counterfeit goods.

Papua New Guinea Commerce Minister wants stock exchange opened up to attract more foreign investment

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Commerce and Industry Minister, Wera Mori, says the government is focusing on new laws to open up Papua New Guinea’s capital markets to attract foreign investment. He also told business in Port Moresby this week that the government alone cannot rebuild the country’s economy and has called for a new bond between the state and the business community.

Australian Trade Minister says ‘collaboration’ with Papua New Guinea reflects new focus on trade-for-aid

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Australia’s Trade and Investment Minister, Andrew Robb, has called for a ‘collaborative approach’ with Papua New Guinea to take advantage of rising global demands for food, energy and water.

Papua New Guinea’s manufacturers seek level playing field on cheap imports

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Cheap imports into Papua New Guinea are posing an increasing threat to local producers, with reports of foreign companies ‘dumping’ goods in PNG or under-declaring the value of imports.

Seventy Papua New Guinea delegates at Solomon Islands’ trade fair

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More than 70 business delegates representing 53 Papua New Guinea companies from various industries are participating in a trade show in the Solomon Islands this week.

Around the world: PNG-based diplomat withdraws from election race and other international stories

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An Australian diplomat in PNG nominates and then withdraws from the race to replace former PM Julia Gillard, while raw coffee prices fall as consumption flatlines.