Highlands Highway

With its funding now legislated, we asked David Wereh, Secretary of the Department of Work and Highways in Papua New Guinea, what’s next for the ambitious 20-year Connect PNG road-building program.

The Asian Development Bank is pushing ahead with its efforts to fund the development of Papua New Guinea’s road network. There will be about US$2 billion (K7 billion) in its investment pipeline over the next three years.

Speaking at a Business Advantage PNG webinar, two of the region’s largest infrastructure investment funds – the Asian Development Bank and the new Australian Infrastructure Finance Facility for the Pacific – have announced major support for road and electricity projects in Papua New Guinea, with more to come.

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister travels to Lae for Wafi-Golpu project, the Minister says PNG is open to welcoming new ICT operators, and confirmed COVID-19 cases increase as PNG adapts to the Niupela Pasin or ‘new normal’. The business news you need to kick start your week.

Road safety is at the forefront of business minds in Papua New Guinea. Poor roads mean delays in the delivery of goods, damaged vehicles and fatal accidents. But Frank Lapi, Director and Master Trainer at Diamond Defensive Driving Academy, may have found a solution that suits businesses of every size.

The Papua New Guinea government has set up a new authority to oversee the restoration of services and infrastructure, following the February 26 earthquake. As humanitarian relief work continues, analysts expect GDP to fall slightly.

Work on the ‘most critical’ 90-kilometre section of the Highlands Highway will begin later this year, under an ambitious 10-year repair and maintenance program, funded by the Asian Development Bank. Works Secretary David Wereh tells Business Advantage PNG, he is already looking to use the funding model to ‘fix’ 16 High Priority roads in other parts of the country.

Government puts out tenders for the first part of a K3 billion Highlands Highway upgrade, demand for foreign currency falls, and report that 31 per cent of log exports from illegal SABLs.

Ok Tedi mine reopens after drought causes suspension, Kumul Petroleum renegotiates UBS loan for Oil Search shares and Steamships announces 11% profit increase. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

Joint venture elects Total as operator, PNG DataCo discusses Solomon Islands link, and WCB Resources lifts stake in gold project. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.