For the past two decades Chinese consumer demand, production and investment have acted as major growth drivers for the global economy. The country’s presence is now acutely felt across emerging markets from South-east Asia to the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa to Latin America. Outbound flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) and international travellers, coupled with robust demand…
In recent years Papua New Guinea’s trade and investment environment has been characterised by government policies aimed at generating wider – and more immediate – fiscal and social benefits from the country’s resource wealth, while simultaneously growing exports and decreasing imports as it develops a broader economic base. Australia remains a key geopolitical partner; however, it faces…
Papua New Guinea has an abundance of wealth in hydrocarbons and minerals that provides it with a solid foundation for economic growth, but also leaves the Pacific island nation vulnerable to the volatility of global commodity markets. As such, the government, led by Prime Minister James Marape, is following a long-term economic development strategy that aims to expand the state’s revenue…
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought substantial macroeconomic challenges throughout the world, leaving no country unaffected. Although Papua New Guinea has benefitted from its geographical isolation in terms of public health, its economic recovery will be highly dependent on international commodity prices, from where it receives the majority of its foreign currency. Nevertheless, the banking…
Papua New Guinea’s insurance market is closely indexed to the country’s economy, which prior to the Covid-19 outbreak in early 2020 had been projected to grow at an average of 3% per year through to 2022. However, the pandemic effectively shuttered PNG for several months, and reduced global demand for the commodities that drive its export earnings. As a result, multiple agencies now forecast…
Alongside the upstream energy sector, mining has long served as the backbone of Papua New Guinea’s economy. In 2019 the mining and quarrying sector accounted for 10.3% of GDP and was a major source of foreign exchange (forex) earnings, according to the IMF. Like the other extractive industries, mining has emerged as a priority for reform under the administration of Prime Minister James Marape,…
Papua New Guinea’s economic development has long been underpinned by its resource wealth, but a change in government in May 2019 has created fresh momentum for diversification. Since his election, Prime Minister James Marape has made clear his intention to secure greater revenue for the government from future extractive projects, with the aim of nurturing economic growth and investing in…
Papua New Guinea’s topography is characterised by mountainous terrain, rivers and around 600 islands. The country’s geographic diversity is accompanied by abundant natural resources, but challenges in transport connectivity have prevented their full benefits from being unlocked. Travelling by road can be complicated and expensive, with many routes in need of maintenance; as a result, the…
Papua New Guinea’s construction sector is closely tied to its extractive industries. This is in part due to the substantial contribution of extractives to the country’s economy, accounting for around 28% of GDP in 2019. The performance of extractives also dictates access to foreign exchange (forex), with the segment representing roughly 94% of exports that same year. PNG’s construction…
Boosting the supply of affordable housing is central to efforts aimed at improving the lives of citizens in Papua New Guinea. Housing availability has become an increasingly pressing issue in recent years, especially as real estate prices for both renters and buyers have been driven up by the limited availability of land for development and the high cost of construction. The government of Prime…
