Businesses in Papua New Guinea want to be able to operate seamlessly in remote locations, and take advantage of the revolution in mobile services, says Pronto Software’s Steve Hillyard. Business Advantage PNG speaks with him about how PNG has become the software company’s second largest market.
The Bougainville parliament has just passed an interim mining act, paving the way for its troubled Panguna copper mine to re-open. Even though the new act removes the automatic renewal of its lease to continue, Bougainville Copper Limited is still the preferred mine operator, as Kevin McQuillan reports.
Despite its potential, the Papua New Guinea music industry is doing it tough. Music producers and promoters say it’s been in ‘massive decline’ for the last seven years, and without new laws and government support, that decline will continue.
Papua New Guinea’s largest sugar grower, Ramu Agri Industries, is adding value to its sugar harvest with new products. Business Advantage PNG spoke to General Manager Jamie Graham about its production of spirits and ethanol.
Mobile phone provider Digicel PNG plans to launch its own multi-station television service later this year. The move is the latest in a series of strategic moves to transform the mobile phone company into a broader based media company in Papua New Guinea.
One of the biggest economic and social challenges facing the PNG government is jobs growth for its rapidly growing workforce in a post-LNG construction economy, according to the Asian Development Bank’s latest report card.
Last August, the O’Neill government announced a policy to create an agricultural ‘hub’ around Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands Province. Business Advantage PNG asked business leaders and analysts what was needed for the region to achieve its potential.
The signing of the first major backer for a new Papua New Guinea television drama series paves the way to develop a local TV production industry, according to the show’s producers.
The Pacific’s increasing integration with Asia, elections in Fiji and more leadership from Papua New Guinea are just some of the factors likely to shape the region over the coming year, according to the region’s three top bankers. In exclusive interviews with all three, Business Advantage PNG canvasses their thoughts on the year ahead.
Coffee farmers in the Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands and Jiwaka provinces are planning to capitalise on the growing global demand for sustainable Arabica coffee. With the help of a young entrepreneur who grew up on plantations in the region, they have an ambitious plan to double annual production within two years.