Last month, Agriculture Minister Tommy Tomscoll told rice companies to start investing and producing rice in country. But, as the CEO of the country’s dominant producer tells Business Advantage PNG, Trukai has already committed to invest tens of millions of kina in rice production. The Papua New Guinea government’s new national rice policy focuses on local rice farming, reducing imports and enhancing food security, but the country’s dominant rice player has had similar plans for

The PNG Government’s decision to review the 2015 Budget has been welcomed, while another prominent economist suggests further foreign investment can be attracted by improved policy settings. The PNG Government’s move, announced by Treasury Secretary Dairi Vele, follows credit ratings agency, Moody’s, changing PNG’s sovereign credit rating to a ‘negative’ outlook, after the fall in energy and other commodities prices, royalties, dividends, and the profitability of associated companies. Vele pointed out that Moody’s has maintained

LAE NADZAB ROAD The serious rain we have experienced in the last week has caused some major flooding in and around Lae but it was particularly noticeable in the 5 and 6 mile sections of the Nadzab Road, where the contractors are currently working on forming the new 4 lane road. The mud and debris has flowed into the settlements but also Mainland Holdings numerous properties including Tablebirds Production factory, the Swiss Mission dairy farm

Trade Minister Richard Maru urged Australian and Papua New Guinean business leaders to look seriously at diversifying their areas of investments. Business Advantage PNG reports from last week’s Australia–Papua New Guinea Business Forum in Lae. Maru was addressing the 39th annual conference of the Australia-Papua New Guinea Business Council and the Papua New Guinea Business Council, held last week in Lae. It was the first time the conference was held in Lae and despite the

With the Papua New Guinea Government highlighting the need for more affordable housing in the country, not-for-profit organisation, Community Housing, believes it has the solution. Papua New Guinea has not escaped the usual spike in housing prices that accompanies major industrial developments, such as the PNG LNG project. Housing prices in PNG have risen to levels out of reach for many businesses and communities, prompting the PNG Government last year to announce plans for the

Australia’s Trade and Investment Minister, Andrew Robb, has called for a ‘collaborative approach’ with Papua New Guinea to take advantage of rising global demands for food, energy and water. In an address to the 31st Australia–Papua New Guinea Business Forum in the industrial city of Lae this week, Andrew Robb said there were close similarities in Australia’s and Papua New Guinea’s economic needs and potential which both should work to capitalise on. He later told

Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s says Papua New Guinea’s banks operate in a ‘high risk’ environment in spite of LNG revenues and increased infrastructure spending by Govenrment. S&P analysts also suggest PNG needs more policies which promote economic growth beyond the resources sector. Three banks dominate Papua New Guinea’s banking system—BSP, ANZ and Westpac. According to the latest Standard & Poor’s Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment for PNG, this limits competition and results in a