New energy projects in the Asia Pacific are creating workforce challenges according to Calum Smith, Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific at HR consultancy, Airswift. In terms of roles, he says no other area in energy is growing as fast as renewables.
Neighbouring Solomon Islands has strong business ties with Papua New Guinea. Jay Bartlett, Chairman of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry, tells Business Advantage PNG that the country has some positive prospects, especially with its new undersea telecommunications cable.
Tess Newton Cain, Anna Powles and Jose Sousa-Santos explain that China is increasing its aid and influence in the Pacific. They say a disciplined approach to co-operation is needed.
Major infrastructure upgrades, visits to Papua New Guinea’s region, and increased efforts to liberalise trade across the region are part of this year’s APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Port Moresby. Officials claim that the nation will be well prepared to benefit from hosting the event.
Pacific Islands need to look for Pacific solutions to global warming, according to Meg Taylor DBE, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. The aim should be resilience.
APEC’s focus will be on the services trade and the digital economy, Alan Bollard, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, told the Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo in Brisbane last week. He said the APEC region now represents about half the world economy.
Accessing finance to develop land in Papua New Guinea is the biggest stumbling block to creating wealth, jobs and an economic base for future generations. In New Zealand, Maori economic development is forging ahead, with the active support of banks and investors. In the second of a two-part series, Kevin McQuillan examines NZ banks’ lending criteria.
Accessing customary land for development in Papua New Guinea continues to be a challenge, while difficulties remain with securing finance against that land. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, Maori landowners are forging ahead with joint ventures, using leases as security and pooling financial resources. Kevin McQuillan investigates how it’s done, in the first of a two-part series.
Papua New Guinea’s APEC year has started, with the first Senior Officials Meeting now under way in Port Moresby. Recent experience shows the year will be successful, according to the country’s APEC Ambassador, Ivan Pomaleu. David Toua, chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) says it is necessary to support globalisation.
Vanuatu tourism officials want a joint approach with Papua New Guinea and Fiji to develop the lucrative inbound Chinese tourism market. As Vanuatu recovers from the effects of Cyclone Pam in 2013, Business Advantage PNG asked Vanuatu’s Tourism Promotion’s George Lapson and Bryan Death how Vanuatu is preparing to capture the China market.