Asia Economy

A signatory to a large number of free trade agreements, PNG is in the process of negotiating accession to others. However, it is perhaps not as well integrated with other Asia-Pacific economies as it might have hoped, and its existing trade deals do not seem to be doing much to strengthen the economy. Furthermore, there is growing concern...

The state has been modifying its legal framework to improve the investment environment in Papua New Guinea. The hope is that these changes will make economic activity more transparent and efficient, thereby helping PNG improve its position in the World Bank’s Doing Business rankings and attract more international participation in the economy....

The landscape for trade and investment in Papua New Guinea has undergone substantial changes in recent years. This shift has been driven to a large extent by the country’s large liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, PNG LNG. The development comprises gas production and processing facilities, with its initial phase carrying an estimated cost of...

Government revenues have declined as a result of the global oil market slowdown, and the 2016/17 budget reflects this. However, moves to increase foreign investment and support economic diversification also factor into the government’s spending plans, with non-oil growth becoming increasingly critical, as evidenced by allocations to education...

One of the largest exporters of oil and gas in Southeast Asia, Brunei Darussalam has long benefitted from its strong trade relationships with Japan, China and its ASEAN neighbours, building a robust trade surplus in the years to 2014 on the back of rising exports and elevated petroleum prices. The oil market’s mid-2014 turnaround has had a...