Exports from Papua New Guinea rose 64 per cent in value during 2014 to K21,903.6 million, largely due to the start of LNG production, according to the Bank of Papua New Guinea. In its March Quarterly Update, which aggregates the four quarters of the 2014 fiscal year, the bank reports the total value of exports rose from K13,337.3 million in 2013, to K21,903.6 million. An analysis of the figures reveals most of the increase has

For the last 18 months, leading Lae manufacturer K K Kingston has been consolidating and restructuring. Chief Executive Officer Michael Kingston talks to Business Advantage PNG about the company’s strategy, his optimism for the future, and the issues facing businesses in Papua New Guinea. Business Advantage PNG (BAPNG): What are the key challenges facing K K Kingston in 2015/2016? Michael Kingston (MK): We’re probably facing the same challenges that all businesses in PNG are facing.

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Papua New Guinean tourism operators flew the flag in Australia last weekend at the South Pacific Tourism Exchange at Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre. Robert Upe reports visitor arrivals are expected to rise, due in part to cruise ships improving tourists’ perceptions of PNG. The South Pacific Tourism Exchange is the region’s largest travel and tourism business-to-business event, offering a program of meetings and events between tourism operators and the travel agencies that sell their

For the last six years, officials from 14 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum have been negotiating with Australia and New Zealand to set up a free trade agreement, known as PACER-Plus. The Pacific’s Chief Trade Adviser on PACER-Plus is Ghanian-born Australian, Dr Edwini Kessie, who tells Business Advantage PNG that labour mobility and the future of development assistance are two key stumbling blocks. Business Advantage PNG (BAPNG): Why is the PACER Plus agreement

An analysis of foreign workers coming to Papua New Guinea since 2000 indicates a chronic lack of skilled tradespeople, according to Lae-based business leaders. While skills training initiatives are under way, an expected surge in mining projects over the next few years highlights the urgency for more skilled workers. The number of blue collar workers coming to Papua New Guinea rose by more than 1700% in the 12 years from 2000 to 2012, aligned with

David Morris is the Pacific’s new Trade Commissioner to Beijing. He talks to Business Advantage PNG about the changing nature of China’s economy and the trade and investment opportunities for the Pacific Islands that can arise from being part of China’s new ‘Maritime Silk Road’. Australian-born David Morris is no stranger to promoting trade and investment. The 50-year-old was a senior adviser to the Tasmanian state government and managed trade and investment promotion for the

Despite some positive developments for the mining sector in Papua New Guinea, the industry continues to face funding challenges for critical exploration activity, the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum’s Greg Anderson tells Business Advantage PNG. After sharing the pain of a global downturn in commodity prices during the past decade, Papua New Guinea’s mining industry has enjoyed some promising developments in recent months, according to the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum’s Executive Director