In brief: O’Neill says 2018 Budget will encourage businesses and create jobs, and other business stories

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Prime Minister O’Neill says 2018 will encourage business development and create jobs, IFC identifies niche markets for tourism growth, and Aropa Airport edges towards night flights. Your weekly digest of the latest business news. 

APEC to reveal tourism as Papua New Guinea’s ‘sleeping giant’

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The hosting of the APEC Summit in Port Moresby in 2018 has sparked a flurry of investment in tourism infrastructure. It promises to kick start the country’s tourism industry as the nation’s capital gets more hotel rooms, airports are upgraded and a new tourism minister takes the helm.

Papua New Guinea’s economy under pressure but fighting back

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Global and domestic factors have combined to slow Papua New Guinea’s economy. However, as Andrew Wilkins discovers, the Pacific nation’s business leaders are still confident about its future prospects.

Papua New Guinea’s forestry sector confronts China weakness

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The Chief Executive of the Papua New Guinea Forest Industries Association, Bob Tate, claims that PNG’s forestry sector is coming under increasing pressure. He points to a drop in demand from China, lower foreign capital investment and moves by the PNG government to lift industry turnover taxes.

Five questions for James Lau, Managing Director of R H Group

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Malaysia’s diversified Rimbunan Hijab Group is a major investor in Papua New Guinea. Managing Director James Lau talks to Business Advantage PNG about the company’s current construction projects, how its retail, agribusiness and forestry subsidiaries are performing, and the economic outlook for 2016.

Papua New Guinea business sees light at the end of the tunnel

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In spite of the talk about an economic slowdown in 2016, Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, is a city where plenty is still happening as 2015 comes to a close. Business Advantage International’s Andrew Wilkins reflects on recent discussions with Papua New Guinea business leaders.

Partial lifting of ban on imported vegetables to Papua New Guinea welcomed but calls for more production assistance

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Business welcomes the Agriculture Minister’s decision to temporarily lift a ban on some imported vegetables, but calls for more government support to lift production—and more consultation.

Retail and manufacturing sales down in Papua New Guinea

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Papua New Guinea’s retailers and manufacturers alike reporting significant drops in revenue this year. How serious is the downturn?

Interview: James Lau, Managing Director, Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group.

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The Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group optimistic MD, James Lau, tells Business Advantage why the group is expanding its horizons.

Spotlight: Focus on palm oil

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Palm oil production has the potential to play a major role in economic development of Papua New Guinea. Industry development now underway in PNG shows that the returns on investment for local communities involved in palm oil plantations or smallholder systems can be high. This is particularly important for PNG, where over 80% of the […]