International Finance Corporation unveiled as partner of 2021 Papua New Guinea Investment Conference

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has been announced as an event partner of the 2021 Business Advantage Papua New Guinea Investment Conference, which will take place from 7 to 9 September.

Under the partnership, announced today, IFC will provide expert speakers to the conference program, including IFC Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, Alfonso Garcia Mora, and will also assist with promoting the event to a global audience.

The 2021 PNG Investment Conference will be PNG’s major international investment event this year.

“Papua New Guinea is a country with tremendous investment potential, that has yet to be fully realized,” said IFC’s Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea, Markus Scheuermaier. “There is clear need to look beyond natural resources, and to invest in opportunities that help build an inclusive, sustainable and resilient economy.”

The conference will focus on investment opportunities across all sectors of PNG’s economy, including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, technology, mining and petroleum.

IFC’s Principal Renewable Energy Specialist, Sean Whittaker, and Operations Officer Christian Reichel will also be part of the conference program along with over 30 other expert speakers.

Whittaker will address the conference live from Washington DC on renewable energy opportunities in PNG, while Reichel will present on agribusiness opportunities for high quality land in the Markham and Ramu Valleys, in PNG’s Morobe and Madang Provinces.

The conference, hosted online this year to avoid COVID-19 disruptions, will also feature keynote addresses from highly respected economist Saul Eslake, Queensland’s new Chief Entrepreneur Wayne Gerard, and KPMG Australia’s Partner for Energy & Natural Resources Technology, Barbara-Anne Bensted.

Alongside the digital program, the conference will feature bonus in-person networking events in both Port Moresby and Brisbane.

Organiser Business Advantage International has hosted eight investment events on Papua New Guinea since 2011.

“PNG is on the cusp of a new wave of investment and growth. This time, that growth will be coming not just from mining and petroleum, but infrastructure, renewables, technology, agribusiness and more,” says Andrew Wilkins, Publishing Director at Business Advantage International.

“This is a time to reframe the conversation about PNG among investors and we’re delighted to have the involvement of the IFC in taking this event to the next level.”

Registrations to the conference are now open at www.pnginvestmentconference.com, which also features the latest program and speaker roster.