PNG to supply Agriculture products to Asian markets

Papua New Guinea’s supply chain capacity is increasing for agriculture products as the Government looks at the Asian markets much more efficiently. Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill announced at the PNG Advantage Investment Summit that this will be boosted by the announcement that there will be a new Port Moresby airport terminal to be built by 2018.

Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill also said that this will also include an upgrade of current port facilities, sea ports in Lae and Port Moresby which will continue to increase PNG’s air cargo capacity to Asian destinations. He said the Government is implementing a 12-point plan to "grow" the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector and participation in the formal economy. "Clearly one of the greatest challenges facing the Asian region is food security," Mr O’Neill said. "But to do so we need to re-align what we grow and produce to meet regional requirements and to meet the demands of the middle class in Asia," he added.

"We need to be able to get our produce to the markets of the Asian region efficiently.” "Papua New Guinea’s supply chain capacity is increasing for the carriage of produce. This includes an upgrade of current port facilities, sea ports in Lae and Port Moresby and a new Port Moresby airport terminal to be constructed by 2018. This will continue to increase our air cargo capacity to Asian destinations. "There has been neglect in some of our key agricultural industries and we have work to do with our Government agencies in order to restore this capacity. We are restoring our production and export coffee, cocoa and copra. "Our government is building the infrastructure such as roads through our country that are needed to get these products to market."

Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill said that at a national level, the Government is also working hard to grow SME sectors to participate in the formal economy. "Broad-based growth of the SME sector is one of the most effective ways to ensure we can provide opportunity for our young people today and tomorrow”. "Our government is implementing a twelve-point plan to "grow" the SME sector. This is focussed on affordable finance, making sure that we have business training and supporting the growth of key sectors," he said. "There are significant opportunities for Australian businesses and entrepreneurs to partner with and mentor our own small business sector," he said.