Issue 1

The year 2025 is shaping up to be another big one for Papua New Guinea, and we at PNG Business News will always strive to keep up with the latest developments in the country.

First off is a look at our cover feature, the Paga Hill Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which starts on page 24. The multi-billion-kina project has positioned itself as PNG’s flagship SEZ, driving investment, job creation, and economic diversification, and safe to say everybody has high hopes for this venture.

Next is a rosier economic outlook for PNG on the back of strong growth despite inflationary challenges and a surge in the trade surplus, which our reporter Roselyn Erehe writes about on page 30. The National Statistical Office revised PNG’s 2023 GDP growth from 3.0% to 3.8%, reflecting stronger-than-expected performance in crude oil and natural gas production, leading to an upward adjustment in 2024 GDP growth to 4.3% from the previous estimate of 3.7%.

Then, PNG is all geared up to join the Osaka World Expo, set to commence on April 13 in Japan and continue for six months. This will offer PNG a platform to display its rich cultural diversity to a global audience, and provide a platform for PNG to engage Japanese businesses and attract investment in key sectors such as technology, energy, and agriculture. Read about this on page 48.

Finally, we have our stalwart commentator Michael McWalter, who discusses "Oil and Gas in an Uncertain Energy Future" starting on page 10. He deftly weaves the big picture in the petroleum industry from past to present and PNG's place in it, and advises how the country can get the most out of the current trends in the industry.