Interviews

The Minister for Mining, Byron Chan, says that the amendments to Papua New Guinea’s Mining Act are ‘complete’. But he tells Business Advantage PNG that there are some contentious issues.

Boosting data speeds and widening broadband coverage are the aims of Digicel’s incoming Chief Executive Officer, Brett Goschen. He told Business Advantage PNG he will be drawing on his experiences in Africa to help transform the telecommunications landscape in Papua New Guinea.

Opportunities exist for brownfield expansion at the Hidden Valley mine, Johannes van Heerden, Chief Executive Officer of Southeast Asia for Harmony Gold, tells Business Advantage PNG. He believes this gives the company a competitive advantage in the region.

Philippe Blanchard, Managing Director of Total E&P PNG – operator of the Papua LNG project – tells Business Advantage PNG that production for the project is expected to begin in 2022/2023. He says Total is using local labour and companies as much as possible.

The World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business singled out a new private credit bureau as having ‘improved the credit information system in Papua New Guinea.’ Bruce Mackinlay, Managing Director of the Credit & Data Bureau, tells Business Advantage PNG that the organisation is improving the country’s transparency and accountability.

Papua New Guinea’s High Commissioner to the UK, Winnie Kiap, tells Business Advantage PNG that the coffee craze in the UK offers huge potential for PNG growers and producers, especially after two successful trade delegations have boosted awareness.

Becoming a market leader requires developing the right strategic intent, QBE’s Matthew Kearns tells Business Advantage PNG. That means understanding your company’s goals and value proposition, and planning effectively.

The Brian Bell Group is a diversified retail conglomerate that is one of PNG’s oldest companies. Executive Director Ian Clough tells Business Advantage PNG that the company will continue to grow by identifying areas of opportunity.

The editor of Air Niugini’s Paradise magazine, Robert Upe, oversaw a complete transformation of the magazine when Business Advantage International took over as publisher two years ago. We asked him what the aims were for the new look.

Times are undoubtedly tough in Papua New Guinea’s mining and petroleum sector, but as the industry prepares for its biennial conference in Sydney in December, the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum’s Greg Anderson tells Business Advantage PNG there are still ‘bright stars’ to get excited about.