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Program

Find out what is happening and when

Our expertly-curated 2023 program will focus on those sectors with the most growth potential in Papua New Guinea.

The latest program of the 2023 Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference. NB Further details, including speakers, will be added as we get closer to the event.

Thursday 10 August 2023

Welcome from PNG’s High Commissioner

 

Official opening address

 

Keynote address: Alan Kohler

Alan is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected financial journalists and commentators. The owner, publisher and editor of The Constant Investor, Alan has been Editor of the Australian Financial Review and The Age and presented the ABC TV’s ‘Inside Business’.

In 2005, Alan launched the Eureka Report, a newsletter for self-directed investors, and in 2007 was the largest shareholder and CEO of Business Spectator. In 2012, both businesses were sold to News Corporation.

These days, Alan is best known as the finance presenter for ABC TV News.

 

Morning tea

 

Economic update on Papua New Guinea

An up-to-the-minute briefing on the state of PNG’s economy and economic trends.

 

Papua New Guinea’s investment climate (Interactive panel)

A conference highlight, a panel of experts discuss the key features of PNG’s prevailing investment climate and identify the risks and the rewards. Participants include:

 

Papua LNG and beyond: PNG’s gas-led decade

With the TotalEnergies-led Papua LNG project now in its front end engineering and design (FEED) stage, this session will look at the next decade of planned investments in PNG’s gas sector, and the opportunities it will deliver to businesses of all sizes. Participants to include:

  • Tera Shandro, Chairperson and Managing Director, ExxonMobil PNG
  • Jean-Marc Noiray, Managing Director, TotalEnergies*
  • Kevin Gallagher, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Santos*

 

Networking lunch

Keynote: ESG and beyond
  • Jonathan Peacock, Partner & National Sector Leader – Oil and Gas, KPMG Australia

 

Decarbonisation: what does it mean for PNG?

This session will look at how renewables are becoming a key part of the power generation mix in PNG. It will also consider the international factors that are placing greater pressure on businesses of all kinds to decarbonise.

Participants include:

 

Case study: Mining

 

Special Economic Zone Update

With its much-anticipated new SEZ strategy set to be unveiled, this session will take a closer look at the PNG Government’s plans to create SEZs across the country.

 

Papua New Guinea’s mining outlook

This session will provide an update on current and planned mining projects and examine measures being taken to ramping up more exploration. Participants include:

  • Jerry Garry, Managing Director, Mineral Resources Authority of PNG

 

Case study: Training
  • Susil Nelson-Kongoi, Chief Executive Officer, PNG Institute of Banking and Business Management

 

Panel: Food security and beyond – opportunities in food manufacturing and production

Greater efforts in important replacement are under way to ensure PNG is able to feed itself. The larger opportunity, however, may be for the country to grow its exports to the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Lae: the Shape of Things to Come

The President of Lae’s Chamber of Commerce, in conversation about the future of PNG’s manufacturing and logistics hub.

 

5.00pm Networking drinks

 

6.30pm for 7.00pm Gala Dinner

Friday 11 August 2023

Pacific Islands Business Briefing

This quick-fire session will provide business updates on some of PNG’s closest neighbours. Participants will include:

  • Kamal Chetty, Chief Executive Officer, Investment Fiji
  • Leata Alaimoana, Pacific Trade Commissioner, Trade and Investment Queensland

 

Keynote: Encouraging investment and trade in the Pacific
  • Cameron Dick MP, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, Queensland Government*

 

PNG’s innovation economy: telecommunications and beyond

PNG’s telecommunications sector has undergone significant expansion in recent times, with the entry into the market of two major new players, Fiji’s ATH (Vodafone) and Australia’s Telstra (Digicel). At the same time the PNG government has commitment itself to an ambitious digital government strategy. Key leaders from the sector will outline the prospects for growth in the tech sector and what it means for PNG’s economic development.

  • Danny Chew, Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone PNG
  • Steven Matainaho, Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology

 

Morning tea

 

Energy: the road ahead

Electricity is the key to driving future economic growth across the country. State utility PNG Power is at the centre of both the sector’s current challenges and its future solutions. This session will discuss the road ahead for the electrification of PNG and discuss private sector involvement.

 

Case study: finance
  • Aho Baliki, Chief Executive Officer, Heduru Moni Ltd (trading as Moni Plus)

 

Private sector opportunities in aviation

PNG’s National Airports Corporation not only runs the nation’s airports; it is also one of the country’s largest landowners. This session will outline the opportunities for private sector involvement in two major new projects: the transformation of Port Moresby International Airport and the ‘Airport City’ precincts being planned adjacent to Port Moresby, Lae Nadzab and Tokua airports.

  • Joseph Kintau, Acting Managing Director, National Airports Corporation*

 

Investor insight: real estate development
  • Q&A with Rupert Bray, Managing Director, Steamships (Video presentation)

 

PNG’s tourism development plan

PNG’s tourism sector is starting to rebound after COVID-19. The head fo the peak body for the sector to outline the PNG government’s strategy to increase visitor numbers and encourage more investment.

 

Update: PNG’s national road network

Funding for the Connect PNG road construction program was approved in the 2023 National Budget. This session will provide an update on the current projects under way, including work on the Highlands Highway and the road to connect Lae and Port Moresby. It will also preview future plans.

  • David Wereh, Secretary, Department of Works and Implementation\

 

In conversation: George Constantinou, the Constantinou Group of Companies

The privately-owned Constantinou Group of Companies has a long and successful history in Papua New Guinea, dating back to the late 1950s. With businesses covering material supply, construction, hospitality and real estate development, this family-owned group has grown in parallel with PNG itself to become a key player in country’s development. George Constantinou, Managing Director of Hebou Constructions and CEO of Monier, will join us to discuss the lessons that can be drawn from the group’s rich history, and how its future is shaping up as it undergoes generational change.

  • George Constantinou, Chief Executive Officer, Monier and Managing Director, Hebou Constructions, the Constantinou Group of Companies

 

1.00pm–2.00pm Closing remarks and networking lunch

 

* Invited