Some 15 of PNG’s 22 provinces are coastal or island provinces, with these regions also home to around 60% of the country’s inhabitants. Thus, road links outside the main cities are sparse, and commercial and passenger traffic from the periphery to the country’s urban centres is often done by sea. Furthermore, PNG occupies a strategic position on north-south routes between northern Asia and Australia…
According to the International Telecommunication Union, only 6.5% of Papua New Guinea’s population uses the internet, with those accessing internet services via a fixed-line connection standing at just 1%. One of the factors behind low penetration has been a lack of network availability outside of the main cities, where around 80% of the population resides. A more prohibitive factor has been high…
Although Papua New Guinea’s public infrastructure investment has focused more on road upgrades until recently, the country’s dual hosting duties for the 2015 Pacific Games and 2018 APEC Summit have made airport upgrades a top priority. Ongoing construction is expected to see the number of airports offering international connections in the country increase from just one to three, easing congestion…
As the largest trading economy in the Pacific region, with links to Australia, Pacific island nations and Asian economies, it is essential that Papua New Guinea have efficient transportation and logistics infrastructure to maximise its trade potential. PNG’s economy is dependent on international trade, both in terms of revenue generation from exporting energy, mining and agricultural products as…
First-time and low-income homebuyers in Papua New Guinea face significant obstacles to property market entrance. A five-year construction boom due to the recently completed PNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project placed upward pressure on inflation, rents and property prices, while the nation remains one of the poorest in the Pacific, putting homeownership out of reach for the majority of citizens. However,…
The construction boom from the Papua New Guinea liquefied natural gas project may be slowing after years of fast growth, but the sector is still in the midst of expansion, led by infrastructure projects ahead of the 2015 Pacific Games. An opportunity to showcase the country’s rapid development and natural beauty, the games prompted major upgrades to stadia and transport networks, to the benefit of…
The residential real estate sector has soared in recent years, as the government wrapped up construction on the $19bn PNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Port Moresby. With rents and home prices showing a sharp increase, there is a growing concern that home ownership remains out of reach for the average citizen. If the strong GDP growth projections for 2015 are any indication, PNG will continue…
Steady growth in global cruise tourism is reaching the South Pacific, and Papua New Guinea is no exception. In 2014 some 22.1m passengers boarded cruise ships, up from 21.3m in 2013, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which forecasts 23m for 2015. One of the fastest-growing source markets is Australia, where passenger numbers rose 130.3% in the five years to end-2013. While…
The capital of Port Moresby is set to undergo a significant transformation, while the country as a whole should be left with a lasting legacy when Papua New Guinea plays host to two recognised sporting events over the next two years. The 2015 Pacific Games took place in the capital in July, and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is scheduled for November 2016. If successfully organised and held, they…
In recent years, Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, has become PNG’s main manufacturing centre, with one of the most vibrant segments arising in the fisheries sector, especially tuna processing and canning. The country’s economic growth – expected to accelerate quickly now that the Exxon-Mobil liquefied natural gas project has come on-stream – is likely to benefit PNG’s industry tremendously,…
