The long commodity bear market is coming to an end, according to Richard Yetsenga, Chief Economist for the ANZ Banking Group. He also observes that, in a world growing more sceptical about globalisation, there is growing competition for foreign direct investment.
While tourism is the mainstay of the Fiji economy, policymakers want to broaden the country’s income sources. Fiji’s Consul-General and Trade Commissioner to Australia, Zarak Khan says opportunities lie with business services, agriculture, forestry, textiles and renewables.
Chris Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer of the APEC PNG Co-ordination Authority believes sceptics about Papua New Guinea’s ability to host APEC will be proven wrong. The policy areas that will be emphasized are improving connectivity, creating sustainable and inclusive growth, and implementing structural reform.
The Solomon Islands economy has experienced steady growth over the last two years. Derek Aihari, Director of InvestSolomons tells Business Advantage PNG that the country is looking to develop its already close links to Papua New Guinea.
The Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill have announced they will be working together to lay a new undersea high speed telecommunications cable from Australia to Port Moresby. The move is expected to contribute to closer economic integration between the two neighbouring countries.
Looking to invest successfully in the Pacific? There’s no substitute for understanding your market and its people, and for being on the ground. Three successful regional investors also outlined to the Business Investment PNG Conference which sectors have the most potential.
The Asian Development Bank has begun its decade-long US$1 billion investment in the Highlands Highway, according to David Hill, the bank’s Country Director for PNG. He says the ADB is also planning significant investment in the health and civil aviation sectors.
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.