Financial analysts Fitch Solutions is forecasting higher economic growth for Papua New Guinea next year. But it says the kina is overvalued, which may pose problems in the future if the the Government’s proposed sovereign bond issue is successful.
Economy & Investment
Papua New Guinea is raising tariffs at the same time it is hosting APEC, according to Rohan Fox, Stephen Howes and Maholopa Laveil. The ANU researchers say this is at odds with the APEC agenda.
To get investment into Papua New Guinea businesses, sound governance is essential. That was the view expressed by super fund managers, bankers and advisers at Business Advantage’s Investment conference in Brisbane.
The Papua New Guinea government has begun spruiking its sovereign bond issue with a series of meetings with investors in Singapore, Hong Kong, London and the US, led by Treasurer Charles Abel. However, while Standard and Poor’s has given the issue a ‘B’ stable rating, others say the government may have to offer a premium to attract investors.
LNG prices have jumped sharply and the cocoa price has been volatile. Business Advantage PNG’s monthly review of Papua New Guinea commodity and financial markets.
How do Papua New Guinea’s two largest super funds, Nambawan Super and NASFUND, make investment decisions on behalf of their members? Two senior executives provide their investment guidelines, which have led both funds to perform well in difficult economic conditions.
The Government’s Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) statement has indicated that it is in the ‘advanced stages’ of negotiating the country’s first sovereign bond later this year. The strategy is being adopted to solve the nation’s foreign exchange shortages, but it does carry risks.
Companies are reducing the size of the businesses, now using excess capital to acquire domestically but may be switching to starting up operations next year. They were some of the observations in a round table discussion on Papua New Guinea’s investment environment at the Business Advantage Invest Forum in Brisbane.
The two days before the APEC Leaders meeting have been declared national holidays in the National Capital District in Port Moresby, according to Chris Hawkins, the Chief Executive Officer of APEC Papua New Guinea. He told an APEC summit briefing that Papua New Guinea has advantages when it comes to hosting the big event.
Papua New Guinea has opportunities in the emerging methods of capturing carbon, climate change expert Professor Tim Flannery told the Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference in Brisbane. He pointed to forests, soil, marine and biomass as potential commercial areas.