In brief: BSP in joint venture with Kumul to expand insurance subsidiary, and other business stories

Welcome,

in briefA new insurance joint venture, an ultimatum on corned beef trade ban, plans to limit rice imports. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

The country’s biggest commercial bank, BSP has entered into a MoU with Kumul Consolidated Holdings to establish a joint venture (JV) to operate Pacific MMI Limited in PNG. In a statement released by the Port Moresby Stock Exchange, BSP Chairman Sir Kostas Constantinou said the MoU allows for the expansion of the JV activities into Fiji via BSP’s established insurance subsidiary in Fiji.

***

Trade Minister Richard Maru says he has given an ultimatum to Fiji to lift the trade ban on Ox & Palm corned beef within two weeks, or face consequences of a possible trade ban, even taking the matter to the international trade organisation.

***

The Australia–PNG Business Council is concerned about the Government’s plan to limit rice imports to 20 per cent, and to give 80 per cent quota of the local rice market to rice importer Naima Agro-Industry Ltd. Council president Greg Pawson says the action may be contrary to its commitments under international trade and investment agreements. The Chairman of the Rural Industries Council (RIC) Sir Brown Bai has also questioned the Government’s decision. Naima is a subsidiary of Indonesia-based Mulia, a company whose principal is Djoko Tjandra.

***

Story continues after advertisment...

The Government is expected to table a supplementary budget in Parliament this week to address the financing and cash-flow issues it is facing. The Leader of Government Business James Marape has told The National that it is a matter of urgency. Meanwhile, economic analysts at the Australian National University say the 2016 Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) released at the end of July shows 2016 revenue, adjusted for inflation, is back at the same level as it was a decade ago in 2006.

***

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the state and landowners in the PNG LNG project area will see a total of K35 million paid to the landowners later this week, says EMTV. The landowners will also end their near two-week blockade, which began as a protest against the government’s failure to pay royalties from the LNG plant.

***

Plantation owner and coffee processor, Bill Gardner, has told the ABC the coffee industry is in danger of becoming a ‘minor industry’. He says production is decreasing and there are fewer coffee trees in the ground today than there were 10 years ago. He blames the volatility of coffee prices, poor education, a lack of law and order and failing infrastructure.

***

There has been a decline in the demand for services in the freight industry due to the ongoing lack of foreign currency, The National reports. Freight forwarding company Pacific Cargo’s Group financial controller Fred Kowas is reported to have attributed the drop to the completion of the LNG (liquefied natural gas) project and the declining prices of resources.

***

The Supreme Court has allowed the State of PNG to join as a party in the K3 billion Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) loan case. The court has been asked to rule on constitutional issues relating to the loan, used to buy shares in Oil Search. The matter is back before the court early next month

***

Oil Search has posted an 89 per cent fall in first-half profit as a drop in energy prices offset increased output. Net income was $25.6 million, compared with $227.5 million last year. Revenue fell 33 per cent as production climbed four per cent.

***

InterOil’s board has urged shareholders vote in favour of the US$2.45 billion takeover offer by ExxonMobil at a special meeting on September 21 in New York.

***

Meanwhile, Philippe Blanchard, the Managing Director of Total E&P PNG, the Papua LNG developer, says the company’s schedule is on time and they will make a final investment decision in 2018, with production scheduled for 2022/2023.

***

The betel nut business is booming on Bougainville, according to PNG Loop, because of betel nut shortages in Morobe Province and in the Highlands.

***

The National Fisheries Authority has moved from paper reporting of tuna resources into electronic reporting, according to The National. Tuna fisheries manager Brian Kumasi says when a boat goes out for fishing for a month or three months, it collects all the information on the boat, which is then sent back, evaluated and validated.

***

A new furniture and electrical retailer known as FairPrice opened its doors in Port Moresby last week, The National reports. The retailer is located at Courts building in Gordons and sells furniture and household electrical items.

***

Marianna Ellingson, the Office of Tourism, Arts and Culture

Marianna Ellingson, Director General, the Office of Tourism, Arts and Culture

The office of Tourism, Arts and Culture has pledged support to help protect the work of local designers and artists, according to the Post Courier. It is reported that the director general Marianna Ellingson said that at all cost, intellectual property must be protected as it is the wealth of this nation. She reportedly said the music industry was already in disarray due to increased levels of piracy.

***

And finally, seven local fashion designers have showcased their products at the first-ever PNG Fashion Week.  The PNG Fashion week with the theme Tribal Eclectic, presented 101 different types of Corporate, Evening and Leisure and traditionally inspired outfits.

Leave a Reply