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.
The Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, has told the Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference in Sydney that there will be no decision on the Mining Act until after next election. He also indicated that the Government will pursue bi-lateral trade deals.
After 20 years building a successful transport company, Mapai Transport founder Jacob Luke is exploring ways to correct PNG’s trade imbalance with NZ, and providing training opportunities for young Papua New Guineans.
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.
Businesses often don’t realise that they are vulnerable to attacks from disruptive new players until it is too late. Andrew Wilkins considers some of the strategic issues created by creative disruption.
Copper and cocoa prices have eased sharply over the last month, while palm oil prices have surged. Gas and oil prices are largely unchanged and precious metals prices have eased. Business Advantage PNG’s monthly overview of commodity and financial markets.
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.
Anitua’s independence strategy, known as the ‘Lihir Destiny’, for Papua New Guinea’s largest and most successful landowner company will continue under its new CEO, John Gethin-Jones. He tells Business Advantage PNG that key focusses are constant review of activities and staff development.
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.
The Papua New Guinea government, faced with falling revenue, cut back sharply on core services in the 2017 Budget says Stephen Howes, Director of the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University. But MP funding is at five times its 2012 level.