Country Profile

Culturally one of the world’s most diverse countries, Papua New Guinea is widely considered to be among the last frontiers for tourism and business opportunities. The island of New Guinea shelters 6-8% of global species, hosts one-sixth of known languages, and rivals Borneo, the Amazon and the Congo in terms of biodiversity. The country is also an important exporter of natural resources (gold, copper and oil) and agricultural products. Cash crops include coffee, oil palm, cocoa, coconut and, to a lesser extent, tea and rubber. PNG has steep mountains, tropical rainforests and hidden valleys, and the political, social and economic terrain currently faced by the country is similarly demanding in its nature.

This chapter contains an interview with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.