Business Council of Papua New Guinea

The 8th Futures Forum 2026 successfully brought together leaders from government, industry, telecommunications, technology, finance, and development sectors to explore Papua New Guinea's journey towards becoming a more resilient, connected, and future-ready nation. Under the theme "Transforming PNG: Resilient, Connected, Future-Ready," the Forum provided an important platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas on the country's digital and economic future.

Throughout the day, participants examined key opportunities and challenges shaping Papua New Guinea's development agenda, with discussions focused on digital transformation, connectivity, technology innovation, public sector modernisation, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, investment attraction, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, 5G readiness, and the evolving role of digital platforms in driving economic growth and national competitiveness.

The Forum also highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships between government, industry, investors, and technology providers to accelerate innovation, improve service delivery, expand connectivity, and build the foundations for a more inclusive and digitally empowered economy.

Hosted by the Business Council of Papua New Guinea and proudly supported by BSP Financial Group Limited, the Futures Forum for the eight time this year continues to serve as a platform for discussing the ideas, technologies, and partnerships that will shape the nation's future.

The 8th Futures Forum 2026 is set to bring together leaders from government, industry, finance, telecommunications, infrastructure, and technology to discuss the future of Papua New Guinea’s digital and economic transformation.

Hosted by the Business Council of Papua New Guinea and proudly supported by BSP Financial Group Limited, this year’s theme is: “Transforming PNG: Resilient, Connected, Future-Ready.”

Join the conversation on digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI, connectivity, 5G, infrastructure, investment, and the future of PNG’s digital economy.

For more information visit: https://lnkd.in/guCSH7vR or email [email protected].

The Business Council of Papua New Guinea is looking forward to participating in the 41st Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum & Trade Expo in Brisbane this week joined by business leaders, policymakers, and industry partners from across PNG and Australia for this prestigious event focused on strengthening trade, investment, and regional partnerships. More updates to be shared soon!

Internet in Papua New Guinea is still unaffordable for most businesses.

1. Up to 10-20% of revenue spent on Internet access.
2. Costs are 3-4x higher than peer countries.
3. Over 80% of earners cannot afford business-ready internet.

The Internet Accessibility Study pinpoints this as not just a tech issue - it is a business growth barrier.

Explore the full report at https://bcpng.org.pg/newsroom/reports-and-surveys/

Did you know?

Papua New Guinea has ~30% Internet Pe*******on, ranking among the lowest globally - behind all ASEAN and Pacific peers.

Despite high smartphone ownership, Internet adoption is plateauing.

The Internet Acecssibility Study outlines emphasises that a key challenge is not readiness - it’s access and affordability.

Explore the full report at https://bcpng.org.pg/newsroom/reports-and-surveys/

Papua New Guinea has significant untapped economic potential - but digitalisation remains a key missing link.

The Internet Access Study that was carried out explores a variety of key areas.

The message was clear: digitalisation is not option - it is foundational.

Explore the full report at: https://bcpng.org.pg/newsroom/reports-and-surveys/

Internet Access Study Report Available!

The Business Council of Papua New Guinea and Partners are pleased to announce the release of the Internet Access Study: Market Survey on Internet Access and Affordability for Businesses in Papua New Guinea.

Published in collaboration with Australia’s ESIP program (Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea), the report provides a comprehensive analysis of internet usage, affordability, and infrastructure challenges affecting businesses across the country.

The study offers critical insights into the current state of digital access in PNG and outlines the significant economic opportunity that can be unlocked through improved connectivity and digital adoption.

The findings were officially presented at the workshop held on 14 April 2026 in Port Moresby, attended by key stakeholders from government and the private sector.

Access the full report at https://bcpng.org.pg/newsroom/reports-and-surveys/

The Business Council of Papua New Guinea, in partnership with Australia's Economic Social Infrastructure Program, successfully hosted the Internet Access Study Workshop at the Stanley Hotel.

The event brought together leaders from government and the ICT sector to discuss one critical question:

How can Papua New Guinea unlock economic growth through digitalization?

The workshop highlighted both the challenges and immense opportunities ahead.

Read more: https://bcpng.org.pg/ias-workshop/

Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea

Office Closure: Easter Weekend

To all members, partners, and stakeholders of the Business Council of Papua New Guinea:

Please be advised that the BCPNG Secretariat will be closed from Friday, 3rd April to Monday, 6th April in observance of the Easter holiday.

Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, 7th April.

We wish you a peaceful and blessed Easter season.

Diaspora Report Now Available on our Website

Here is President Susil Nelson-Kongoi's take on this report:

"For the past 2 years, our initiative, the Coral Sea Dialogue (CSD), have been engaging with the PNG Diaspora business community in Australia. Accounting for 28,000, average age of 45 and 64% have some form of non-school leaver qualification, this is perhaps the highest concentration of skilled professionals in any Papua New Guinea community domestically and abroad.

An outcome of the CSD was to incubate a business council for the diaspora. Am grateful for Leesa Tembi and her team who have established an Interim Diaspora Business Council PNG. First order of business was to undertake a comprehensive survey to hear the level of interest to participate in the PNG market.

Much of the Report highlights key findings of this work in the areas of sectors, remittance and the appetite to invest and trade in PNG. Crucially, it also includes the policy and law reform, both in Australia and PNG, to enhance this important community.

An exciting finding is the overwhelming desire to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s development priorities. With their passion and talent, Diaspora are well positioned to dramatically improve the skills gap in the market.

I am grateful for Brenda Cangah, Sean Jacobs and many others that contributed to this Report. Our ambition is to go beyond Australia and foster relations with other communities. It's now time to find wantoks, near and far, to reverse brain drain to brain gain.

Our ambition extends beyond Australia to the cultivation of sustained relationships with other communities. This is a critical moment to mobilise wantoks, both locally and globally, in order to transform patterns of brain drain into processes of brain gain."

Read the full report athttps://bcpng.org.pg/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2025_DIASPORA-_REPORT.pdf