Business Council of Papua New Guinea

Facilitating Trade, Investment and Information Seminars

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Tourism

The potential for tourism in PNG is considerable, and largely undeveloped.

Believing that more can be done to capitalise on this potential, we have urged the PNG Government to:

• elevate the tourism ministerial portfolio to that of a major economic portfolio
• provide the portfolio with a higher cabinet ranking
• appropriately resource tourism policy and promotional agencies, enabling them to be more effective in promoting increased investment and growth for the industry.

We have also urged the Government to consider introduction of targeted tax incentives to help kickstart the tourism industry.

We are committed to working with the PNG Government and national tourism organisations to encourage and promote further development of the industry, and the marketing of PNG as a tourism destination from Australia.

Information Seminars

In close cooperation and association with our counterpart, the Australia PNG Business Council, we coordinate annual Business and Ministerial Forums. Attended by members, Government and other organisations operating in the Papua New Guinea / Australia bilateral environment, these very well-attended events cover issues in the current political, business and social environment.

• For more information about our Business Forums, click here.
• For more information about our Ministerial Forums, click here.

We also hold regular functions for the benefit of members. These take the form of Business Breakfasts, luncheons and seminars with expert speakers on matters of current interest.

• For information about upcoming Business Breakfasts, click here.

Strategies for Nation-Building and National Unity

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HIV/AIDS

BCPNG is greatly concerned about the serious social, economic and health implications of the worsening HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Experts point out that a solid partnership between government and business is a crucial component of the strategy for managing this issue effectively on all fronts.

Business in Papua New Guinea must therefore play a significant role and we are committed to working with government towards the management of HIV/AIDS.

BCPNG, in collaboration with the Australia PNG Business Council, will play a role in informing members about this issue and encouraging businesses to develop appropriate workplace strategies. In order to do so, however, we must be at the table with governments when national and bilateral policy discussions on the issue are taking place.

We have called on the Governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea to include our representatives both in national and bilateral policy discussions regarding HIV/AIDS management strategies.

Recent developments in the management of HIV/AIDS include:

• The Government of Papua New Guinea’s strengthened response and its commitment to according HIV/AIDS as a development issue
• Australia’s work with the Papua New Guinea Government to design a new support program, taking on lessons learnt from previous experience
• The regular inclusion of expert speakers at our annual Australia PNG Business Forums and Ministerial Forums, enabling us to communicate and discuss the issue with the business community.

MIST IN THE MOUNTAINS - DVD/CD AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

Mist in the Mountains shows a realistic but compassionate view of how the HIV virus is spreading in the Porgera Valley of the Enga Province in Papua New Guinea. It explains how HIV spreads and considers some of the ways that this can be prevented.

The video takes the view that HIV and AIDS are growing through lack of knowledge and situations that cause people to devalue their own lives and the lives of others. AIDS is more than a disease. It is an indication of things going wrong in the communities today. Finding a solution presents a challenge to the fundamental values of Papua New Guinea.

The film on DVD or VHS tape was produced by the National Family Life and the Melanesian Institute. It is also supported by the National AIDS Council, National AIDS Council Support Project and Porgera Joint Venture. Copies are available through the BCPNG's Executive Officer: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The cost per tape is Kina 35.00 and all proceeds will go to the National Catholic Family Life.

Education

BCPNG is concerned that education programs are not sufficiently relevant to the current and projected needs of business.

To work towards achieving these needs, the National Training Council must be properly resourced so it can carry out its statutory functions in relation to the development of vocational training.

We believe it is also worth considering the reintroduction of selective national high schools with entry based on academic merit, and resourcing these schools at a high level. We understand that such a proposal may cut across the policy of universal education, however we believe it is worth examining.

The country as a whole would benefit from a flow of well-qualified graduates, from various levels of the education system, with qualifications relevant to the labour market and equipped for meaningful employment.

We hope to work with government education authorities to ensure that education policy and programs are targeted at the planned needs of business and the economy.

As Papua New Guinea works towards developing its own pool of skilled workers, it is important that we utilise appropriately qualified employees, irrespective of domicile and nationality. We are working with both the PNG and Australian Governments to develop more practical and workable processes to facilitate visas and work permits.

Committees

Through the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC), we are also involved in several Committees whose object is to work towards nation building and National unity.

These are the:

• Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee
• Informal Sector Committee
• Health Sectoral Committee

For more information about these Committees, click here.

Telecommunications, Technology and Industry

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PNG – Aust Gas Pipeline Project

The Papua New Guinea to Australia gas pipeline is very important to our economy as, if the revenue is wisely managed, it will assist the country to overcome the loss of revenue from other areas.

We urge Australian Governments (Commonwealth and State) to do all possible to ensure the Project proceeds and are thankful for the ongoing strong support of the Queensland and Papua New Guinea Governments.

A comprehensive portfolio of agreements and licence approvals is required to bring this project to the point of sanction.

These include:

• new production and pipeline licences in PNG and Australia
• environmental approvals (likely to standards embodied in the Equator Principles)
• landowner benefits
• socio economic reviews
• business development arrangements
• a range of complex commercial and financing agreements involving Developers, the PNG Government, landowner groups and other stakeholders.

We are concerned that a number of important PNG Government Departments are substantially under-resourced, in both numbers and skills, and will find it difficult to address the review requirements and approvals appropriate for the Pipeline Project.

We, therefore, urge the Australia and Papua New Guinea governments to review support for key Departments, such as:

• Petroleum and Energy
• Finance and Treasury
• Environment and Conservation.

This support, we believe, is urgently needed if the Project is to proceed in a way that delivers gas to customers efficiently under present supply agreements.

Agriculture

Agriculture is a key driver of employment and economic growth and the distribution of wealth to the wider population. We are pleased at the Government’s intention to focus greater resources on this important sector.

We do, however, believe that even greater resources must be devoted to land administration, including the introduction of an appropriate system of customary land registration.

We encourage the Government to work with the private sector to identify opportunities for new crops and more effective means of producing, and marketing, agricultural outputs.

Organisations in the resources sector who have invested in PNG in recent years are to be commended. The inflow of new investment and expertise is crucial to the country’s ongoing economic growth.

We are actively committed to working with the PNG Government and peak industry associations on developing both major agricultural projects and smaller scale agriculture, and actively pursuing investment in agriculture.

Shipping

There is considerable evidence from BCPNG members in the logistics industry that, although Papua New Guinea Ports has been certified as compliant with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code, many security deficiencies in Papua New Guinea ports remain.

These deficiencies raise concerns relevant to strategic security, as well as to business arising from poor security for consignments shipped either from or to these ports.

We have requested that relevant Australian agencies engage with their PNG counterparts to bring about an improvement in this situation. We have also raised our concerns with PNG Harbours Limited.

Committees

Through the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC), we are also involved in several Committees whose object is to work towards telecommunications, technology and industry.

These are the:

• Transport and Infrastructure Sectoral Committee
• Agriculture Sectoral Committee

For more information about these Committees, click here.

National and International Ecomonic Affairs

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BCPNG believes that, through our members renewed enthusiasm for investment, the nation’s economic outlook is promising.

There is continued improvement in economic indicators in Papua New Guinea and we endorse the sound economic and fiscal policy being exercised by both the Papua New Guinea Government and the Bank of Papua New Guinea. This has led to a continued improvement in the business-enabling environment and an encouraging climate for private sector investment.

Notwithstanding the excellent work being carried out by the Papua New Guinea Government on removing impediments to business, we are working for accelerated reform on the issue of labour market and immigration policy and procedures.

Along with the Australia PNG Business Council, we are working to establish a dialogue on reforms to the Australian labour market to facilitate access by Papua New Guineans as a first step towards wider economic integration.

While the current fiscal structure in place for investment in the resources sector is globally competitive following recent policy changes, we encourage the PNG Government to ensure that its overall taxation and investment policies are continually aimed at further improving the country’s globally competitive position for all key sectors.

We believe that ongoing sustainable economic growth might benefit from a refocus of development programs to include support for:

• agriculture
• forestry
• tourism
• power
• telecommunications
• shipping
• infrastructure development
• technical education.

We acknowledge the expressed desire of the Papua New Guinea Government to retain ownership of national infrastructure, and (along with the Australia PNG Business Council) have offered to work with government to develop models to enable the effective financing and operation of national infrastructure such as:

• roads
• telecommunications
• water
• power
• ports and harbours
• major public hospitals.

Committees

Through the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC), we are also involved in several Committees whose object is to work towards national and international economic affairs.

These are the:

• Commerce and Services Committee
• Informal Sector Committee

For more information about these Committees, click here.