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A study by the International Finance Corporation has found that for the first six months of the year, there were 34,600 tourist visitors to Papua New Guinea. They spent a total of US$78 million (K260 million), which was an average of US$2262 (K7529) per trip.

The success of Papua New Guinea’s first US$500 million bond issue will depend on the government’s spending focus, according to Paul Barker, Director of PNG’s economics research think tank, the Institute of National Affairs. He tells Business Advantage PNG that the private sector has to get access to foreign exchange because of extended delays.

Ramu NiCo announces expansion, Kina Bank celebrates innovation award, and Frieda River Project Accord signed. A weekly digest of the latest business news.

The PNG APEC Study Centre is to be officially opened next week at the National Research Institute. According to Dr Thomas Webster, Professorial Research Fellow at the NRI, the aim of the centre is to improve the understanding and enabling of innovation in Papua New Guinea.

In the second half of his exclusive conversation with Business Advantage PNG’s Andrew Wilkins, the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says the policies developed at the APEC Leaders meeting will have a lasting impact on the country. He says APEC marks a unique opportunity to market PNG as an investment destination.

A study by Pacific Trade Invest, the Pacific Islands Export Survey 2018, has found that 70 per cent of Pacific Island exporters expect to have an increase in orders over the next year. It found that Australia and New Zealand remain the two major markets outside the region, although there is growing interest in Asia.

ANZ Bank expects Kina to rise above $0.35 cents from early 2020, Ramu 2 hydropower project to commence next March, and security preparations for APEC step up. Your weekly digest of the latest business news. 

The Regional Director of Digicel Pacific, Paul Statham, says the company has ‘aggressive’ plans to expand its offerings when the submarine fibre cable from Australia to Papua New Guinea is built. He says these innovations will especially benefit business.

In an interview with Business Advantage PNG’s Andrew Wilkins, the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says he is looking for deals in LNG and mining projects that will benefit all parties. In the first of a two part series, O’Neill says his government is investing to diversify the economy.

Oil and LNG prices are showing strength but cocoa and palm oil prices price have weakened. Business Advantage PNG’s monthly review of Papua New Guinea’s commodity and financial markets.