Banks and finance firms are rolling out digital products to take advantage of increased connectivity across Papua New Guinea, where about 75 per cent of the population remain unbanked. Business Advantage PNG talks to the key players find out what’s coming. Digizen ID aims to address the lack of formal identification in PNG using biometrics and social vouching. It is the first project to graduate from the central bank’s regulatory sandbox, set up to encourage innovation in finance. Credit: Digizen If there’s a milestone that really illustrates not only how far PNG’s banking system has come, b ..read more

Port Moresby’s flourishing dining scene now features a Thai restaurant – and it’s a good ’un. Lucky Lucky launched in late 2023 in the smart Nambawan Plaza development (it’s right below the Port Terrace Restaurant), offering town and harbour views and a balcony for alfresco dining. It promises “authentic modern Thai made from fresh local PNG ingredients”, and it does not disappoint. The food is of international standard and the menu ranges from Thai staples such as green curry, fish cakes and chicken basil stir-fry (also perfect for takeaway) to some eye-catching signature dishes&nb ..read more

Fiona Harper reports that it’s worth lingering in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, which has attractions ranging from birdwatching to diving. The National Museum and Art Gallery Credit: PNG TPA Travellers intent on experiencing Papua New Guinea’s unique customs, landscapes and marine wonderlands often transit through Port Moresby thinking there’s no reason to linger. But the truth is the multicultural city has much to offer. As the natural hub of PNG’s immense cultural heritage wheel, the city is home to markets, museums and galleries housing world-renowned exhibits. Lush tropical g ..read more

As part of extensive in-country research for the newly-released 2024 edition of the Business Advantage PNG annual magazine, our editorial team spoke exclusively to dozens of Papua New Guinea business leaders to understand how they are preparing for imminent growth – and what challenges they face. Here’s what they told us. ExxonMobil’s Kumul marine terminal at Caution Bay outside Port Moresby. PNG’s LNG exports look set to increase substantially over the coming decade. Credit: ExxonMobil/R Dellman If 2023 was the year Papua New Guinea started to gear up for an anticipated decade (or more) of ..read more

Air Niugini CEOs past and present reflect on the trials and tribulations of Papua New Guinea’s national airline, during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has prevailed since. Peter Wilmoth reports. Air Niugini weathered the COVID-19 storm but the Airline’s Acting CEO Gary Seddon says it was a “distressing time”. When news began spreading in the first weeks of 2020 of a respiratory virus racing across the world, no-one could know the impact it would have. Soon to be named COVID 19, the once-in-a-hundred-year event shook the world, hitting airlines and associated businesses around the world fir ..read more

After years of high prices for mobile data in Papua New Guinea, consumers are now able to access lower prices that represent better value. Amanda H A Watson and Moses Sakai present their latest analysis of data prices. Has competition helped to drive down mobile data prices in PNG? The authors suggest it has. We have been monitoring mobile internet prices in PNG since the start of 2020. This post reports on research findings since the last update in April 2022. From the beginning of May 2022, we have added an additional mobile network operator to our monitoring program: Vodafone PNG. It laun ..read more

Port Moresby’s Grand Papua hotel is getting a complete makeover that promises new restaurant and bar concepts and updated, high-tech rooms. Business Advantage PNG speaks to Peter Laigaard Jensen, CEO of Steamships Hospitality and Coral Sea Hotels, to find out what guests can expect from the revamped landmark. Completed in 2011, the flagship Grand Papua is one of seven properties in the current Coral Sea Hotels business. It is now affiliated with the Raddison Individuals brand. Credit: BAI Business Advantage PNG (BAPNG): How is Coral Sea Hotels preparing for the increase in demand from the ex ..read more

The results of the 2024 PNG 100 CEO Survey were presented to members of the Port Moresby and Lae chambers of commerce at separate business breakfasts last week. Here we feature some photos from both events. Westpac’s Justin Smirk The meetings, which also served to launch the 2024 edition of the Business Advantage PNG annual magazine, featured presentations from Westpac’s Senior Economist Justin Smirk and Business Advantage International’s Publishing Director, Andrew Wilkins. Our photographers were there to capture both events. Lae (Lae Yacht Club, 18 March 2024) Business Advantage Interna ..read more

Papua New Guinea’s property developers have been busy renovating properties and putting the finishing touches to new projects, including Marriott- and Hilton-branded executive apartments, as the sector gears up for greater economic activity. Steamships’ new Harbourside South development in Port Moresby, featuring the Marriott Executive Apartments, was officially opened on 15 March. Credit: Steamships Occupancy and room rates at Papua New Guinea’s premier hotels and apartments have already bounced back from their COVID slump, and property managers are preparing for a fresh surge in demand as ..read more

Pradeep Lal, CEO of Vodafone Papua New Guinea, speaks to Business Advantage PNG about the challenges of establishing a robust nationwide network, and the massive opportunity ahead, as surging data use in the country encourages more customers to switch to smartphones. A subsidiary of Fiji’s Amalgamated Telecom Holdings, Vodafone PNG was launched in April 2022. Credit: Vodafone PNG Business Advantage PNG: Vodafone PNG has now been in Papua New Guinea for almost two years. How is your network build progressing? Vodafone PNG’s Pradeep Lal. Pradeep Lal: We had encountered some delays in the ini ..read more