Business council planning to expand membership nationwide

THE Business Council of PNG plans to expand its membership to be more inclusive of businesses based outside Port Moresby, Council president Robert Nilkare says.
He said this would be part of its strategy in the next five years to enhance existing relationships with Australians business while venturing into partnerships in Asia.
“One of my visions is to look outside Port Moresby. For a number of years I understand that the representation of large companies in Port Moresby is the headquarters. And sometimes some of the successful business are in the outside provinces,” Nilkare said.
“We feel that the business council represents the business council of Port Moresby and there is a need look outside Port Moresby.
“Another vision I have is to expand the Australia-PNG Business Council relationship and have a look at Asia.
“I think Asia is certainly a big influence in commerce in this country and that is where I would like to see the business council in the next five years. We have a proposal to have a forum possibly in 2019 in Singapore to start that engagement with Asia.”
Nilkare said this at the launching of the council dashboard in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme.
He noted its importance to business and national development.
“The UNDP have spent time and money on this project that will be beneficial to the business community and also to the government to align our developmental goals with each other,” Nilkare said.
“It is always good to know what we are doing and what the government is doing and we compare notes.”