In just two weeks’ time, senior executives from across the region will gather in Sydney for the 2019 Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference. We preview what delegates can expect from the event.

The view from the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, venue of the 2019 Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference

Business opportunities arising from Papua New Guinea’s improving internet connectivity, the state of its resources sector, billions of dollars of new investment in infrastructure, and options for raising capital, are just some of the topics to be addressed head-on at this year’s Papua New Guinea Investment Conference.

PNG’s annual international investment promotion event will take place on 19 and 20 August at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney.

The event, organised by Business Advantage International, will feature a range of keynote presentations, panel discussions, Q&As and case studies aimed at giving investors a long-term view of the potential of PNG’s economy and the opportunities for investments, joint ventures and partnerships.

The delegate list reflects the high level nature of the event, with CEOs, board members and other senior executives from some of the region’s largest companies registered to attend, from the United States, Europe and Asia, to Australia, PNG and the Pacific.

The event will also provide international investors with a first opportunity to understand the business and investment policies being pursued by PNG’s new Marape Government.

Highlights

Highlights of the two-day program include:

• Keynote presentations specially composed for the conference from two of the region’s top conference speakers—business analyst and demographer Bernard Salt and futurist Mark Pesce.
• Two of PNG’s most respected resources executives, Oil Search’s Peter Botten and Ok Tedi Mining’s Peter Graham, discuss the state of PNG’s mineral resources sector
• A panel on raising capital led by PNG’s super funds and stock exchange
• A special focus on Gulf Province, location of the new Total-led Papua LNG project
• An economic briefing from World Bank economist Ilyas Sarsenov
• Sessions on PNG’s growing services sector, presentations by local entrepreneurs, and investment case studies
• A special focus on major new infrastructure investment in energy, telecommunications, roads, ports and airports
• Briefings on PNG’s Melanesian neighbours, Fiji and the Solomon islands
• Networking sessions and a social program

Bernard Salt

‘Bernard Salt is one of Australia’s best business speakers and we’ve asked him to talk about global trends and how they are likely to affect PNG over the coming decade. This is big picture stuff and few do it better,’ says Andrew Wilkins, Publishing Director of event organiser Business Advantage International.

‘With PNG’s telecommunications infrastructure improving steadily, we have also commissioned tech expert and futurist Mark Pesce to talk about the business opportunities that will flow from PNG’s improved internet connectivity. Mark’s influential Next Billion Seconds podcast has 1.5 million listeners and he will join the conference fresh from moderating at the G20 in Osaka.’

Partners

‘We’re grateful to partners such as the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the Asian Development Bank, major sponsor KPMG and PNG’s Investment Promotion Authority for their involvement in the program.

‘For us, the experience of our delegates is paramount. We want them to leave the conference inspired, challenged, entertained, better informed and better connected.

‘With 38 speakers over two days, and a private tour and dinner at Sydney’s iconic Museum of Contemporary Art, the conference promises to offer something for everyone.’

For the full conference program and to register, visit the official conference website at www.pnginvestmentconference.com.