In brief: Bougainville mining law passed, giving licensing regime to Autonomous Government, and other business news

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Bougainville’s Autonomous Government moves closer to issuing mining licences, tuna stocks down to 16% of original size and foreign shareholding of NNBPOL won’t exceed 49 per cent. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

Kulim prepares to exit Papua New Guinea with sale of New Britain Palm Oil shares

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A new player is preparing to enter Papua New Guinea’s palm oil industry, after Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby was selected as the preferred bidder for Kulim Malaysia’s shares in PNG’s largest agribusiness, New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL). What do analysts think of the move?

That’s the spirit: Ramu Agri Industries adds value to sugar crop

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Papua New Guinea’s largest sugar grower, Ramu Agri Industries, is adding value to its sugar harvest with new products. Business Advantage PNG spoke to General Manager Jamie Graham about its production of spirits and ethanol.

In brief: Ratings agency warning on debt and other business news

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Moody’s warns debt could prompt downgrade, tax review committee considers capital gains tax and an EU warning to curb illegal fishing in PNG. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

In brief: O’Neill to outlaw Special Agricultural Business Leases and other business stories

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Cabinet to ban SABLs, Telikom prepares for transition to becoming a retailer, and a possible eight-year delay in upgrading Lae airport. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

In brief: Government considers lift in minimum wage and other business stories

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Cabinet considers a rise in the minimum wage, Australia to involve private sector in aid delivery, and Oil Search expects huge annual cashflow from LNG plant. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

Interview: Taking PNG sustainable palm oil to the world

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Palm oil, sugar and beef producer, New Britain Palm Oil Limited, is Papua New Guinea’s leading agribusiness, with almost 100,000 hectares under its management across several provinces. Made in PNG asked Jamie Graham, General Manager of NBPOL subsidiary Ramu Agri Industries, about the next steps for this PNG success story. NBPOL’s recent growth has been […]

Agribusiness [sector profile]

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Papua New Guinea’s agricultural sector has a number of competitive advantages, including high seasonal rainfall, good quality soil and low-intensity methods. The absence of pesticides and artificial fertilisers presents opportunities for PNG to position itself as a leading organic producer. Palm oil, coffee and cocoa are Papua New Guinea’s three most valuable agricultural commodities, together […]

A season of healthy growth

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Farming expertise, rich soil and high rainfall are behind Papua New Guinea’s organic strength. Agriculture accounted for more than 30% of Papua New Guinea’s GDP in 2011, according to World Bank figures. The sector expanded at a moderate pace in 2011, with many cash crops responding to high international prices. PNG’s most valuable cash crops—oil […]

Case study: Ramu Agri Industries

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Sugar, beef and oil palm are the three platforms on which Papua New Guinea agricultural company, Ramu Agri Industries (RAI) is based. Expansion is planned for all three, following the company’s September 2008 acquisition by New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL). Ramu Agri Industries’ General Manager Jamie Graham says RAI’s broad strategy is to ‘continue […]