Papua New Guinea’s Cocoa Board has launched a new farmers’ company to move small farmers from subsistence farming to running a small profitable business. The long-term aim of the new PNG Agriculture Company is to boost output, quality and farmer incomes, as Cocoa Board CEO Boto Gaupu explains.
Papua New Guinea is a ‘low risk’ country for foreign investors, according to John Leahy, President of the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. But he tells Business Advantage PNG that it is important to prepare thoroughly in order to be a successful investor.
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.
Syd Yates, Chief Executive of Kina Securities, has announced that he will relinquish the role next month after 20 years with the company, with Westpac’s Greg Pawson joining the company. Yates tells Business Advantage PNG he believes it is time for new blood.
Papua New Guinea needs greater flexibility in the exchange rate, Rohan Fox, Lecturer and Research Fellow at the University of Papua New Guinea’s Division of Economics, explains to Business Advantage PNG. He believes APEC will be a boost to the economy but not enough to spark a general recovery.
Papua New Guinea’s agricultural sector is the backbone of the economy and a substantial contributor to national income, Steve Woodhouse, host of EMTV’s ‘Farming PNG’ program, tells Business Advantage PNG. He calls for changes to the regulatory bodies.
Papua New Guinea’s largest retailer is still only servicing about 30 per cent of Papua New Guineans, according to Chairman of CPL Group, Mahesh Patel. While it has product and store expansion plans, Patel says CPL is waiting on a general economic recovery before moving forward.
Highlands Pacific is expanding its focus from large projects and exploration, to controlling interests in smaller projects offering near term returns. Highlands Pacific Managing Director, Craig Lennon, tells Business Advantage PNG it is a response to market changes.
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.
Rhodes is a pre-fabricated buildings company focused on the Papua New Guinea market that has support operations in Australia, the Philippines and China. Managing Director Emanuel Papas outlines the strategy to Business Advantage PNG.