Papua New Guinean tourism operators flew the flag in Australia last weekend at the South Pacific Tourism Exchange at Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre. Robert Upe reports visitor arrivals are expected to rise, due in part to cruise ships improving tourists’ perceptions of PNG.
For the last six years, officials from 14 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum have been negotiating with Australia and New Zealand to set up a free trade agreement, known as PACER-Plus. The Pacific’s Chief Trade Adviser on PACER-Plus is Ghanian-born Australian, Dr Edwini Kessie, who tells Business Advantage PNG that labour mobility and the future of development assistance are two key stumbling blocks.
An analysis of foreign workers coming to Papua New Guinea since 2000 indicates a chronic lack of skilled tradespeople, according to Lae-based business leaders. While skills training initiatives are under way, an expected surge in mining projects over the next few years highlights the urgency for more skilled workers.
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.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says a planned ‘shake up’ of the Port Moresby Stock Exchange (POMSoX) will lead to more innovation and increased domestic and international investment.
Despite some positive developments for the mining sector in Papua New Guinea, the industry continues to face funding challenges for critical exploration activity, the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum’s Greg Anderson tells Business Advantage PNG.
David Morris is the Pacific’s new Trade Commissioner to Beijing. He talks to Business Advantage PNG about the changing nature of China’s economy and the trade and investment opportunities for the Pacific Islands that can arise from being part of China’s new ‘Maritime Silk Road’.
Last month, Agriculture Minister, Tommy Tomscoll, told rice companies to start investing and producing rice in country. But, as the CEO of the country’s dominant producer tells Business Advantage PNG, Trukai has already committed to invest tens of millions of kina in plantations.
A year after launching a producing fruit and vegetable operation serving the domestic market around Port Moresby, agricultural developer Innovative Agro Industry is looking at opportunities to export its Papua New Guinea produce to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
With the Papua New Guinea Government highlighting the need for more affordable housing in the country, not-for-profit organisation, Community Housing, believes it has the solution.