On April 29, the Papua New Guinea-China Business Roundtable was held in Guangzhou, bringing together more than 250 enterprises from China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in sectors such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, and tourism.
More than 300 government officials, business leaders, and media representatives attended the event, which was hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) of PNG, and organized by the CCPIT Guangdong Provincial Committee and the China Chamber of International Commerce.
The roundtable featured a lively atmosphere, with participants exchanging business cards and engaging in active discussions. PNG Prime Minister Hon. James Marape also led a delegation to the gathering.
Asked why Guangdong was chosen as the venue, Prime Minister Marape said, "Guangdong is the biggest province in China by population, the biggest province consistently by the size of the economy. A lot of Guangdong-based businesses are operating in PNG, from mining to all manner of business. It is rightfully a place that PNG can relate with for our focus on expanding our economy."
China is, without doubt, PNG's largest trade and investment partner. According to the Hon. Richard Nelson Maru, PNG's Minister for International Trade and Investment, bilateral trade has seen double-digit growth for multiple consecutive years, and PNG's exports to China reached a record high last year.
"We have already reached several preliminary agreements covering joint mining development, industrial investment, and tourism cooperation," Minister Maru said. "We open our arms to welcome Chinese enterprises to invest, and we look forward to more opportunities for cooperation in the future."
Infrastructure projects such as roads, power facilities, and ports, as well as agricultural cooperation, are achievements that cannot be overlooked. Liu Libin, General Manager of Guangken Holdings Group, noted that his company has invested in mining in PNG and plans to build supporting infrastructure.
"The development of these projects can meet our business expansion needs while also generating tax revenue, boosting the local economy, and improving people's livelihoods—a clear win-win," he said.
In areas related to people's livelihoods, there is equally strong potential for cooperation. Beijing North Guangdian Technology Co., Ltd., a company specializing in radio and television broadcasting transmission equipment, has been involved in PNG's nationwide digital TV and radio project since 2021. Zhou Liang, Director of the company's International Business Department, said the first phase has been completed in major cities, improving broadcast coverage. "The second phase is now underway, aiming for nationwide digital coverage. Through this roundtable, we see many opportunities in PNG, which encourages us to expand our business and gain more experience."
PNG's water infrastructure, much of it built in the 1960s, is nearing the end of its service life and is in urgent need of replacement. James Young, CEO of Water PNG, expressed his hopes to adopt a "build-and-operate" cooperation model with Chinese partners. "We are deeply impressed by the automation level of Guangdong enterprises and would like to introduce this advanced technology to PNG."
Selwyn Siliman, Manager of Donor and Inter-Government Relations at PNG Ports Corporation, presented the country's industrial zone plan and called for long-term partnerships with Chinese firms. "A large volume of PNG's trade is with China, so we must ensure our port facilities have the capacity to handle it," he said. "The first phase of the Lae Port terminal is a successful example of China-PNG cooperation. In the next five to ten years, we aim to continuously improve port services to provide vital infrastructure for our citizens."
To understand this cooperation, multiple perspectives are needed. Daroa Peter, Acting Director of Investor Servicing and Promotions at IPA PNG, highlighted the business-friendly environment. "China has many big state-owned enterprises doing very well globally. PNG is a small developing country, and we want that partnership to unleash our rich natural resources for downstream manufacturing."
Jesse Tukup Anjen, CEO of the Cocoa Board of PNG, noted that while seven PNG cocoa exporters are now GACC-qualified for direct access to the Chinese market, volumes have been modest. "Ideally, we would like more importers from China to buy cocoa from PNG," he said.
At the roundtable, PNG extended an "olive branch" to Chinese businesses, offering concrete incentives. Minister Maru said, "We will offer incentives under the economic zone. So if you invest in agriculture, we will offer incentives. If you are in downstream processing, we offer incentives." Moreover, the IPA has developed an online registration process, allowing entities to register from their home country, pay online, and complete the process in hours instead of days.
Zhou Xin, General Manager of Dalian Jinma Weighing Apparatus Co., Ltd., expressed confidence in PNG's future, "PNG's economic growth rate has reached 8% to 9%, which greatly encourages Chinese enterprises. The investment promotion policies are particularly worth mentioning—they will not change with government terms, so we are even more determined to explore the South Pacific market."
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Video, cover & photo: Guo Hongda
