Two major port projects have been approved by the Papua New Guinea government, with expectations that they will enable the country to play a greater role in regional trans-shipment and encourage economic development. Lae Port’s capacity is being expanded, and work is underway to relocate Port Moresby’s main port from Fairfax Harbour to Motukea Island. Other upgrades include improvements…
The customary land ownership system in place since Papua New Guinea gained independence in 1975 could be about to undergo significant reform. Currently, most of PNG’s land belongs to its people, with the state owning the remaining 3%. Under customary tenure, ownership rights belong to an extended family group governed by traditional law. Very little customary land is registered or has a title…
More than a decade in the making, the construction phase of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) project in Madang Province now looks set to get under way in Papua New Guinea. The main impetus behind the zone is to transform PNG into the largest tuna processing and canning hub in the Asia-Pacific region, eventually overtaking the Philippines and Thailand. Current estimates indicate that…
Even as investment dollars and export revenues have driven Papua New Guinea’s economy forward and provided new-found wealth to a segment of the population, large numbers of rural inhabitants who rely on the agriculture industry for their livelihood have yet to cash in on the country’s wave of prosperity. Because it remains the largest employer in PNG, agriculture is the lynchpin in many…
For the entirety of the island’s history, the vast majority of Papua New Guineans have been able to rely on the land and the sea to provide them with sustenance to meet their daily needs. Endowed with an astounding variety of fruits and vegetables, the average resident does not have to venture far from their front door to find a variety of healthy, nutritious produce. However, as more and…
Encircled by be an exclusive economic zone totalling 2.4m sq km of ocean, PNG’s fisheries play a key role for domestic artisanal fishermen populating the coastal communities and are an important currency earner within the international fishing industry. The largest fishery zone in the South Pacific, these waters are among some of the most productive and diverse in the world, containing an…
Cruise liner visits are becoming a solid source of tourism revenues for Papua New Guinea and are increasingly being viewed as important to the sector’s development. Travelling by cruise ship is considered an ideal way to explore PNG, as there is the advantage of on-board lodging and amenities, meaning visitors can access remote areas that perhaps lack modern facilities and infrastructure.…
Vision 2050, Papua New Guinea’s long-term national development strategy, emphasises the tourism industry’s potential to become a key driver of economic growth, particularly with respect to creating rural and urban employment opportunities. A number of incentives to help spur investment in the sector are laid out in the Medium Term Development Plan 2016-17. Incentives There are two main…
When Port Moresby was chosen as the location for the 2015 Pacific Games, some people were concerned. The capital does not have the strongest reputation for safety – although this perception is far removed from reality, according to many who live and work there. In any case, the prospect of having thousands of athletes and their families descend on the city for two weeks sparked concerns about…
The new personal property security registry (PPS Registry) went live on May 9, 2016. The Personal Property Security Act 2011 (PPS Act) was gazetted and came into operation on May 4, 2016 and the regulations made under that act (Regulations) came into operation on May 5, 2016. The PPS registry is fully electronic, and will receive notices of security interests and the interests of execution…
