According to firm chief executive officer Robin Fleming, interest in BSP Financial Group Ltd (BSP) shares on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is strong, with the current bid price of AU$5 (K6.6). Fleming said there were some compliance obligations that shareholders needed to fulfill when BSP got listed on the ASX last month. Obtaining a tax ...

According to an S&P Global Rating research update, measures introduced in the battle against the Covid-19 are likely to bring more pressure on PNG's government finances. According to the study, the global pandemic has exacerbated PNG's systemic fiscal problems. “Much weaker revenues, coupled with larger recurrent expenditure, are a feature of th...

BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) and the Department of Finance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to allow the government to raise non-tax revenue through a digital payment solution. This is the first such MoU with any government agency, according to BSP Group CEO Robin Fleming. “These payment gateway modes would appropriately suit dif...

The PNG Kina is expected to continue falling against the US dollar. The Kina traded steady in the first quarter of 2021, according to the BSP's Pacific and Economic Market Insight survey, thus depreciating 2.4 per cent year on year against the US dollar, from 0.2920 to 0.2850. Rohan George, BSP Group General Manager – Treasury, said, “The US Dollar ...

According to the Bank of PNG (BPNG), the average regular kina exchange rate has depreciated against all major currencies except the Japanese yen as of March 8.  The kina depreciated by 8.1 per cent against the Australian dollar, 7.5 per cent against the British pound sterling, 2.8 per cent against the Euro, and 0.9 per cent against the US dollar, accor...

The availability of foreign currency is crucial for promoting trade and enabling companies to continue importing goods for consumer consumption. It's also essential for investors to know that returns on capital investments can be repatriated if and when enough foreign currency is available in the country, according to Bank South Pacific CEO Robin Flemi...

Puma Energy PNG Ltd is concerned about a shortage of foreign currency (forex) to import crude oil in a timely manner, according to country manager and director Hulala Tokome. The business paid for its crude supplies when forex was available on the market, he said.  Tokome added that the availability of forex had influenced the crude oil purchase sch...

In support of the 2021 budgets and to boost the pandemic response, the government has secured a K1 billion loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). The funds will be used to support regional health centres. Jica will disburse about K988 million to help the national budget with an interest rate of 0.1 per cent per annual and four-yea...

The PNG market has adapted to 64 per cent Visa contactless transactions. This is significantly higher than other markets in the Asia-Pacific region such as Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Taiwan. According to Bank South Pacific’s digital general manager, Nuni Kulu, this is a magnificent start for the BSP digital payment system with an adoption r...

The foreign exchange liquidity in the country is predicted to increase this year. According to the Bank South Pacific, this could happen although the first quarter may be tight. In the BSP Economic and Market Insight December 2020 quarter publication, group general manager treasury Rohan George said that the foreign exchange inflows were expected to decre...

According to the Bank South Pacific (BSP) chief executive officer Robin Fleming, the kina depreciated by 2.9 per cent against the US dollar in 2020.“During the course of 2020, the Kina depreciated by 2.9 per cent against the USD, therefore, the cost of goods increase associated with the exchange rate for USD denominated imports would have been around 2.9 ...

According to Institute of National Affairs (INA) executive director Paul Barker, foreign exchange (forex) has stayed very tight since 2017, considered to be one of the major hindrances to investments and businesses in PNG. He added that his concern was the imbalance in the markets, partly linked with rigidities in the setting of exchange rates, and the un...

To work out outstanding issues with government payments, the Budget Management Committee (BMC) met with department heads, the Bank of PNG Governor, Loi Bakani, and BSP CEO, Robin Fleming.The BMC is composed of Chairman and Treasurer, Ian Ling-Stuckey, Finance Minister John Pundari, Planning Minister Rainbo Paita and his Vice Minister, Dr Kobby Bomareo.Lin...

Foreign exchange inflows may be lower in 2021.This is according to the bank of South Pacific, that said that this is due to the delay in an agreement between Barrick Niugini and the government on the Porgera gold mine. Chief executive officer Robin Fleming said that there were several factors that would impact the availability of foreign exchange this yea...

The availability of foreign currency in PNG is still very challenging.This, according to ANZ PNG managing director Mark Baker, who said this was because the market was still imbalanced. He added that this demand for foreign exchange was outrunning supply which came mainly from the commodity exporters of Papua New Guinea. “This is a structural imbalance an...

When the Business Council proposed two options for the Bank of PNG to move forward - trading at its market value and devaluing kina - the business space suddenly put its foot down. They claim that smaller businesses are more worried than ever and are asking the government to establish a policy framework that can help them. According to Executive Director ...