PM to lead investment discussion at conference

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Australia’s assistant minister for trade, tourism and Investment Mark Coulton will lead a line-up of over 30 experts and business leaders discussing PNG’s investment potential at next week’s Papua New Guinea Investment Conference in Brisbane.
The annual conference promotes business and investment opportunities in PNG to the international business community.
After O’Neill’s opening address, keynote speaker Prof Tim Flannery will make a special presentation on opportunities for business in a low-carbon future, outlining how PNG can tap into a range of emerging opportunities across energy, bio-tech, agriculture, marine produce, construction and more.
Coulton is expected to give further details of the recently announced Australia–USA–Japan infrastructure scheme for the Pacific.
Delegates will also receive an economic update from Asian Development Bank’s country economist for PNG, Edward Faber, while a succession of expert panel sessions will examine the investment climate in PNG, sectors that look ripe for investment over the next decade, and the next generation of PNG entrepreneurs.
“There will be plenty of variety in the programme, from formal talks to informal panel discussions and short, sharp case studies which will showcase what’s already going on the ground in PNG,” said Andrew Wilkins, publishing director of conference organiser, Business Advantage International.
Rugby League legend Darren Lockyer will be the special guest at the conference dinner on the evening of Aug 6.
The twin conference themes of sustainability and innovation will permeate many of the sessions, while infrastructure will be the major focus of Day 2, with infrastructure expert Craig Lawrence presenting a report card on the country’s infrastructure needs.
PNG’s backlog of investment in infrastructure is starting to be addressed.
Billions will be spent over the next decade on ports, aviation, energy and roads, bringing opportunities for local and international businesses, and helping to improve national productivity.
High-level speakers such as Carolyn Blacklock from PNG Power, Asian Development Bank’s Country Director David Hill, and Works Secretary David Wereh will outline the investment programme for the next decade.
There will be an exclusive briefing for delegates on PNG’s new undersea fibre-optic cable and Digicel Pacific’s regional Director Paul Statham will outline prospects for PNG’s telecommunications sector.
The conference is the seventh investment event Business Advantage International has organised on PNG, and follows the success of the first PNG Investment Conference in Sydney in 2017.