September’s Papua New Guinea Advantage Investment and Infrastructure Summit looks like being the largest ever, with delegate registrations up and a very strong roster of high profile speakers, say organisers.

The final touches are now being made to the program for this year’s Summit, which will bring local and international business leaders together for investment opportunities across PNG’s economy.

The event will take place at the Gateway Hotel, Port Moresby on 9 and 10 September.

Day One: Investment Summit

PNG Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill

National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop will open proceedings on Day One with a welcome to delegates, before handing over to PNG’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who will be the keynote speaker.

Other highlights of Day One include:

• David Thomas, an expert on the BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China), on what PNG can learn from the ways these developing economies have unlocked land, capital and labour in pursuit of economic growth
• Oil Search Limited’s CEO Peter Botten on the future of PNG’s petroleum industry
• An update on the region’s economy from ANZ’s Chief Economist Asia Pacific, Glenn Maguire
• Carolyn Blacklock (IFC), David Knapton (Austrade) and Michael Block (Nambawan Super) discussing the next wave of business opportunities in PNG.

Day Two: Infrastructure

Day Two, which is being held in association with PNG’s Independent Public Business Corporation, will be entirely focused on business and investment opportunities in infrastructure.

The ADB’s Lakshmi Venkatachalam

Ben Micah, Minister for Public Enterprises and State Investment has been invited to open proceedings. He will be followed by keynote speaker Lakshmi Venkatachalam, the Asian Development Bank’s Vice-President (Private Sector and Co-Financing Operations).

Other highlights of Day Two include:

• A special panel on structuring infrastructure deals with Graham Matthew (KPMG Australia), Ian Mathews (ANZ) and Andrew Cartledge (GE Australia)
• A Q&A session on PNG’s aviation sector with Simon Foo (Chief Executive Officer, Air Niugini Limited) and Joseph Tupiri (Acting Chief Executive Officer, National Airports Corporation)
• Private sector infrastructure case studies, including Ravuvu Business Park and New Britain Palm Oil Limited.

The full program and details on how to register can be found at www.pngadvantageconference.com.

The Summit will again be co-hosted by the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business Advantage International (publisher of www.businessadvantagepng.com).

‘Registrations are well ahead of this time last year, particularly from overseas, and we expect a strong turnout for the Summit,’ noted David Conn of the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

‘We’re also delighted with the support we have received from the event’s sponsors, including major sponsor BSP.’

‘Now that PNG has entered the exclusive club of LNG-producing nations, we’re all asking “What’s next?”. We’re hoping the Summit will provide some of the answers and bring business leaders together to focus on significant business opportunities,’ said Andrew Wilkins, Publishing Director at Business Advantage International.

The PNG Advantage Investment Summit is now firmly established in PNG’s business calendar. This year’s event will be the fourth Summit. The first was held in Brisbane in 2011, with the event moving to Port Moresby the following year.