PNG an ‘exciting economic opportunity’ for NZ

‘Spectacular’ economic growth makes Papua New Guinea (PNG) an exciting economic opportunity for New Zealand, according to William Dihm, PNG High Commissioner to New Zealand, and Marion Crawshaw, NZ High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea. Both delivered the message that PNG businesses and government departments were keen to grow relationships with New Zealand, to 40 business people in New Plymouth recently. Their speeches were reported in PNG Facts: The Niugini Voice. William Dihm said that with nine mines operating in PNG and six under development, there was demand for Taranaki’s skilled engineers and energy sector workers to work in PNG. ‘The scale of development means there’s great diversity of work that needs to be done,’ PNG Facts quotes Dilm as saying. Marion Crawshaw told the audience that PNG had the largest and fastest growing economy in the Pacific. ‘I think [PNG] is a really exciting place to be positioned at the moment,’ Crawshaw told her audience. With a population of almost 7 million, a burgeoning petrochemical industry and an economy growing at close to 10 per cent per annum, the PNG market should not to be overlooked, the business leaders were told. PNG’s major industrial sectors include mining, crude oil petroleum refining, fisheries, palm oil, plywood and wood chip production and tourism. New Plymouth Mayor Harry Duynhoven told the meeting that a healthy business relationship between local businesses and Papua New Guinea was something to look forward to.