Business Council of Papua New Guinea

National Working Group (NWG) on Removing Impediments to Business and Investment 

BCPNG is closely aligned with the NWG, collaborating with Government to improve economic performance and to investigate impediments to business and investment.

The NWG was established by the Prime Minister on August 9, 2003. It is chaired by the Chief Secretary to Government, and has core representation from the Government and the Private Sector. The Deputy Chairman is Mr. Henry Kila, President of BCPNG.

The core NWG is made up of representatives from:

• Chief Secretary to Government (Chairman)
• Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (Secretary)
• Department of Treasury
• Department of National Planning and Rural Development
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration
• Investment Promotion Authority (M/Director)
• Business Council of PNG
• Manufacturers Council of PNG
• PNG Chamber of Mines & Petroleum
• Rural Industries Council
• Australia PNG Business Council

The NWG has identified priority issues that impact upon business and investment in Papua New Guinea:

• Work Permit and Immigration
• Collection and Rebate on Tax
• Investment Promotion Authority Reserve Activities
• Import Levy and Import Monitoring\Fiscal issues relating to Tax
• Foreign Exchange Controls
• PNG Harbours Board Tariff issues
• Civil Aviation, and
• Rural Development Bank

Other priority areas being progressed by the NWG relate to amending regulations and laws:

• Work Permits
• Immigration
• Asia Pacific Economic Community (APEC) Business Travel and Passengers Information System to ensure easier access for Business Travel.

Other issues considered to be impediments to business are also considered from time to time by the NWG.

The NWG Terms of Reference are to improve economic performance and to facilitate an export-led recovery by investigating impediments to business and investment.

The review team consults widely with:

• industry and business in PNG
• PNG principal trading and investment partners
• relevant government agencies
• peak organisations
• civil society
• trade unions
• relevant foreign governments.

Interim reports are provided to the Prime Minister on a regular basis.