Bold plans to transform Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) fishing industry into the largest tuna processing and canning hub in the region ahead of Thailand and the Philippines are beginning to gain momentum. Considered a key economic segment, tuna exports have long been a significant provider of foreign exchange income to PNG’s economy. In recent years the fisheries industry has shown robust…
Papua New Guinea has a long history in agriculture, with archaeologists dating its origins in the country to approximately 7000 years ago. It is thought that tribes in the Wahgi Valley in PNG were among the first to grow and harvest some of the staple food crops that are valued today, such as sugar cane and banana. People in PNG still employ traditional farming techniques, although these methods…
With an eye on high-value niche markets, the policymakers of Papua New Guinea are determined to rehabilitate the domestic coffee industry, while also capitalising on growing international demand. In order to realise these goals, numerous issues will need to be addressed. In addition to unstable commodity prices, a combination of short- and long-term factors are threatening to put PNG’s coffee…
Papua New Guinea’s ability to handle greater volumes of data consumption is set to drastically increase as it expands its fibre backbone. Throughout 2016 and 2017 a number of strategic partnerships were struck to assist with the evolution of PNG’s technological architecture. Perhaps the most significant move as far as public commitment is concerned is the government’s decision to invest…
In line with UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), objectives, Papua New Guinea’s Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) has placed sustainable tourism development at the core of its organisational goals. These targets aimed at supporting grassroots tourism products have been highlighted in previous government strategies, and continue to serve as the backbone upon which the nation is building…
Access to innovative technologies is gradually changing the social fabric of Papua New Guinea by creating a platform whereby users can gain access to knowledge, share ideas and develop business initiatives. With its diverse terrain of mountains and heavy forests, the adoption of mobile phone technology presents huge advantages to the overall business climate in a country like PNG. From a communication…
In an attempt to close the gap on more developed nations, Papua New Guinea is pressing forward with major infrastructures projects while investing heavily in its bandwidth capabilities. Prior to the arrival of international competition in 2007, PNG relied almost entirely on dial-up internet connections. In 2017, after a decade of major infrastructure rollouts, the internet landscape of PNG…
With an increase in international sporting events in recent years attracting a growing number of visitors, Sports tourism has emerged a potential growth market for Papua New Guinea. Valued at $600bn a year, and expected to grow annually at around 6% for the next five years, sports tourism is a major contributor to the global travel industry. While PNG represents only a tiny fraction of the…
Papua New Guinea comprises the eastern half of the largest tropical island on Earth, along with hundreds of smaller adjacent islands, combining to form less than 0.5% of the world’s total land area. Culturally, linguistically and environmentally diverse, PNG is considered a true frontier when it comes to economic diversity. There is ample space for development in general business and, more…
With an election in 2017, the year is proving to be a challenging one in Papua New Guinea. The economic downturn following the completion of the PNG LNG project has resulted in criticism of the current government, amid accusations of mismanagement. Despite this, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill secured a fourth term in Parliament, winning 78% of the votes cast in his district. He was re-elected…
