Our Region

The Papua New Guinea economy is unlikely to rebound strongly before 2020, according to a report by the World Bank. It forecasts steady, but unspectacular, growth.

National airline Air Niugini is helping establish Jacksons International Airport as a regional hub, according to the company’s Chairman, Sir Frederick Reiher. He told the Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference that the choice of new routes to China were made with that strategy in mind.

With its longstanding dispute with Australia over the Timor Sea resolved, neighbouring Timor-Leste looks set to expand its petroleum and mineral industries. Meanwhile, its government is actively seeking investors in agriculture and fisheries, tourism and services, according to Abel Guterres, Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia.

To deal effectively with China it is best to target second tier cities, David Thomas, Chief Executive of Think Global Consulting, told the Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference in Sydney. He said the country’s GDP and middle class will double in the next decade, profoundly altering the world economy.

Papua New Guinea businesses should expect income streams from October, 2017, as momentum builds towards the APEC summit in November, next year. The Director-General of the PNG APEC Authority, Sir Charles Lepani, told the Business Advantage Investment Summit in Sydney, towns outside Port Moresby will also benefit.

Mahesh Patel, the chairman of Kumul Telikom, told the Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference that the newly formed entity is urgently looking to build an undersea cable to Sydney. He said the aim is to reduce wholesale price by two-thirds

The Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference was held last week in Sydney, successfully showcasing the nation’s potential as an investment destination and canvassing different views from the business community about the opportunities and challenges. A clear picture of the country’s—and the Pacific region’s—great untapped potential emerged.

The European Investment Bank has received a mandate from the European Union to invest in infrastructure projects in the Pacific, including in Papua New Guinea. Head of the EIB’s Pacific Regional Office, Adam Bruun explains to Business Advantage PNG some of the priorities and operational practices of the Bank.

Australian companies are optimistic about investing in Papua New Guinea says Philip Franklin, Head of the PNG branch of the Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council (APNGBC). But Peter Taylor, President of the Council, tells Business Advantage PNG that proposed changes to the Investment Reserve List is a concern for foreign investors.

A survey of exporters in the Pacific Region has found that business confidence has increased. Although they are exporting to fewer countries the total number of exports has risen since 2014.