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.
The Solomon Islands’ economy has a rich resource base but faces many obstacles, according to Vsevolod (Seva) Payevskiy, Country Resident Representative for the International Finance Corporation. He tells Business Advantage PNG the best options for growth are agriculture, fisheries, mining and tourism.
Businesses in Papua New Guinea seeking to establish a presence in the Asian region are increasingly looking at Singapore as a stepping-stone to expand their market reach or increase their shareholder base. There is also growing interest from Singapore-based businesses looking at the PNG market.
Michael McMillan, Director of Policy and Investment for the Townsville Enterprise, explains to Business Advantage PNG that, with Air Niugini now conducting direct flights from Townsville to Port Moresby, there is greater reciprocal interest between the two cities. He says a delegation of Townsville business people went in May to Papua New Guinea’s capital city to look at the business possibilities.