Regions
From The Report: Papua New Guinea 2015
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Across its four regions and 22 provinces, Papua New Guinea contains an impressive diversity of linguistic, ethnic and cultural groups. From the coasts of autonomous Bougainville to the rocky peaks of the Bismarck range in the highlands, and from the dense quarters of the National Capital District to the remote and less-inhabited tributaries of Western Fly Province, these areas – even within themselves – show a high degree of geographical, cultural, and political variety. Among the most dynamic patches is the province of Morobe, on the north-east coast, due north of Port Moresby. This region is PNG’s industrial heartland, as well as a thriving commercial hub. Its capital, Lae, is also an educational centre and the staging point for transport into the highlands and beyond. Through its port, Lae connects the farm and mineral produce of the interior with the busy shipping lanes of the South Pacific. With abundant natural resources and a strategic location, Morobe is likely to benefit considerably from PNG’s economic growth in the near to medium term.

This chapter contains a viewpoint from David J Alcock, CEO, Mainland Holdings; and an interview with Kelly Naru, Governor, Morobe Province.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

The Morobe region is PNG’s industrial heartland
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Across its four regions and 22 provinces, Papua New Guinea contains an impressive diversity of linguistic, ethnic and cultural groups. From the coasts of autonomous Bougainville to the rocky peaks of the Bismarck range in the highlands, and from the dense quarters of the National Capital District to the remote and less-inhabited tributaries of Western Fly Province, these areas – even within themselves – show a high degree of geographical, cultural and political variety. Among the most dynamic…

Analysis

PNG decentralises power and improves local control
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Ever since Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia in 1975, its wide diversity in language, ethnicity, culture and geography has created a tendency towards decentralised institutions. At the same time, however, there has been an opposite tendency: towards more control over local affairs by national authorities. To strike a balance between the levels of government – national, regional, provincial, district and local – is thus among PNG’s main political and economic challenges. Devolution…

Interview

Kelly Naru, Governor, Morobe Province: Interview
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Interview: Kelly Naru In the context of the improving national economy, what role can Morobe Province play? KELLY NARU: Morobe is the country’s biggest province, with a population of about 750,000 people, and it has probably grown to over 1m since the last census. I would say that location is perhaps the province’s best asset, as it is located in the middle of the country and ideally positioned to connect to the other provinces via land and sea routes. In the context of Papua New Guinea’s…

Viewpoint

David J Alcock, CEO, Mainland Holdings: Viewpoint
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Viewpoint:David J Alcock We should all recognise that a lot has been done by the current administration when compared to previous ones in overhauling the city’s infrastructure. However, inadequate roads and infrastructure in general represent perhaps the first and foremost challenge for any company operating in what is considered to be the industrial centre of Papua New Guinea. In our industry, due to the poor condition of the roads, vehicles frequently break down while delivering services…

Analysis

Manufacturing in PNG centres on fisheries
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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, as the local market expands to supplement existing export trade. Planned industrial and commercial…