Few countries are as blessed with abundant natural resources as
Its largely mountainous terrain is swathed in dense tropical rainforest, the soil is rich for cultivation and the South Pacific waters off its coasts teem with fish. Beneath the ground lies a wealth of minerals, including gold, silver and copper, and there is oil and natural gas awaiting exploitation.
It is a beautiful country too, one of the most biodiverse in the world with a dazzling variety of flora and fauna, insect and birdlife.
Yet while PNG is resource rich, it is cash poor, and 33 years after achieving independence from Australia – not very long in the life of a country – it still faces significant challenges of nationhood.
The continual decline in the delivery of service from the Public Service has resulted in poor supporting infrastructure – particularly transport, power, health, communications and education; law and order problems; a high cost of doing business; a lack of accessible support for new and existing businesses; and a shortage of new investment are among the factors that have held back socio-economic development.
PNG Made products mean jobs and wealth creation opportunities for Papua New Guineans.
New incentives must be aimed at addressing these problems if we are to trigger further investment and growth including producing and marketing more PNG Made products.
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