Mary Tao peeks inside the new Marriott Executive Apartments at Harbourside South in Port Moresby. Master bedroom of a Marriott Executive apartment suite. Credit: Credit: Godfreeman Kaptigau and supplied by Marriott The largest hotel chain in the world, Marriott International, has extended its brand into Papua New Guinea. The Marriott Executive Apartments Port Moresby, which take up the top nine levels of Harbourside South, is the chain’s first branch in the South Pacific and is a welcome addition to Port Moresby’s Stanley Esplanade. Harbourside South has 21 floors and is managed by Pacific P ..read more

Papua New Guinea’s Chamber of Resources and Energy has come out with serious objections to the government’s proposed National Gold Corporation Bill. We take a closer look at the legislation and what it could mean for the country’s second most valuable export. The Lihir gold mine. Credit: Newmont Corporation The goal of the National Gold Corporation Bill, which may come before Papua New Guinea’s Parliament as early as its next scheduled sitting in May, is no less than “the establishment and promotion of Port Moresby as an international gold bullion centre”. However, the proposed bill is causi ..read more

The major redevelopment of the airport that serves PNG’s second city, Lae, means the country now has a second airport – Nadzab Tomodachi – capable of welcoming international flights. Business Advantage PNG visits the new facility. The exterior of Nadzab Tomodachi International airport, now open. Credit: BAI The K692 million rejuvenation of the former Lae Nadzab Airport, about 40 km from the capital of Morobe Province, should provide a boon for industry, commerce and tourism in the province and wider Papua New Guinea. Prime Minister James Marape officially opened the renamed Nadzab Tomodachi ..read more

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