In spite of the talk about an economic slowdown in 2016, Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, is a city where plenty is still happening as 2015 comes to a close. Business Advantage International’s Andrew Wilkins reflects on recent discussions with Papua New Guinea business leaders.
Yesterday, Papua New Guinea’s Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch presented both the 2016 National Budget and a Supplementary Budget for 2015. Both budgets – highly anticipated given the PNG Government’s need to address lower revenues – make cuts to projected expenditure and find additional revenue resources in order to keep the budget deficit under control.
A World Bank report says Papua New Guinea government spending should be curbed to avoid a possible ballooning budget deficit.
International ratings agency Standard and Poor’s has revised its outlook for Papua New Guinea from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’. While maintaining PNG’s B+/B rating, S&P’s Director of Sovereign & Public Finance Ratings explains to Business Advantage PNG why there’s a one-in-three chance the rating could be lowered in the next 12 months.
As Papua New Guinea’s business community continues to face foreign exchange shortages, ANZ Bank has called for a relaxation of the enforced trading band for the kina. Meanwhile, analysts say the kina is facing further downward pressure from the US dollar.
After two years of research and hearings, the PNG Tax Review Committee is due to present its final report to Government next month. PricewaterhouseCoopers PNG’s Jason Ellis looks at the tax reform measures it is likely to recommend.
The Papua New Guinea government will cut K1.6 billion in expenditure from its 2015 Budget, and may seek further cuts of K1 billion, according to Treasury Secretary, Dairi Vele.
The 30 per cent jump in the value of Kina Securities when it listed jointly on the Australian Securities Exchange and the Port Moresby Stock Exchange last Thursday ‘exceeded our expectations’, Chief Executive Officer Syd Yates tells Business Advantage PNG.
Ordinary Papua New Guineans will be able to apply to purchase at least some of 97 million shares in PNG-based financial services company Kina Securities. The company has just launched its prospectus, ahead of an expected listing on both the Port Moresby and Australian stock exchanges on 30 July.
Papua New Guinea’s Kina Group aims to list on the Australian Stock Exchange in late July—arguably the first PNG company to undertake such a move. Business Advantage PNG talks to Chief Executive Officer, Syd Yates, about what he sees as a ‘great opportunity’ for PNG.
