Papua New Guinea requires about 6 per cent of its GDP to maintain its infrastructure assets, according to Craig Lawrence, Principal at Lytton Advisory. He told the Business Advantage Investment Conference in Brisbane that the ‘build and neglect’ approach is twice as expensive as ongoing maintenance.
A completely redeveloped Loloata Island Resort, just out of Port Moresby, is scheduled to open in February or March of 2019, according to Lew Nielsen, Director of the resort. The signature tourism project is a joint venture of Lamana Development and NASFUND.
How do Papua New Guinea’s two largest super funds, Nambawan Super and NASFUND, make investment decisions on behalf of their members? Two senior executives provide their investment guidelines, which have led both funds to perform well in difficult economic conditions.
Milne Bay’s Woodlark Gold Project is likely to get the go ahead within the next three months, after developer Geopacific Resources assesses the definitive feasibility study which will be completed in Q3 this year. Managing Director, Ron Heeks, told Business Advantage PNG, if it goes ahead, production should commence in early 2020.
PNG Biomass will reach a final investment decision in the fourth quarter of 2018 for its proposed power plant located in the Markham Valley, Project Director Michael Henson tells Business Advantage PNG.
In a slow economy getting jobs in the formal sector can prove difficult. But Rohan Fox, a Researcher at the Australian National University’s Crawford Policy Centre, says his research suggests that graduates of the University of Papua New Guinea do find employment.
PNG Power is aiming to cut tariffs by half and electrify 70 per cent of the country in the next five to 10 years according to Acting Managing Director Carolyn Blacklock. But to achieve those goals the organisation will require a new ‘business model’ she says.
Papua New Guinea has opportunities in the emerging methods of capturing carbon, climate change expert Professor Tim Flannery told the Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference in Brisbane. He pointed to forests, soil, marine and biomass as potential commercial areas.
After the successful launches of sustainable small businesses in Vanuatu and Samoa, a donor-funded private sector initiative is preparing to expand into Papua New Guinea. Anna Moegerlein from Melbourne’s The Difference Incubator explains the initiative to Business Advantage PNG.
A second major port in Papua New Guinea is expected to be completed in late 2019, says PNG Ports Corporation Managing Director, Stanley Alphonse. He tells Business Advantage PNG the K350 million project will include the greater Lae Tidal Basin Project and the Huon Industrial Park development in Lae.