- David McLachlan-Karr: Overthe past decadePNG’s economy has been robust averaging 7% growth annually; however, growth has not been inclusive andthe country remains off track to achievethe Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
The country ranks 137th out of 169 countries onthe 2010 Human DevelopmentIndex (HDI) with persistent levels of poverty and social inequality.
The United NationsDevelopment Program istherefore embarking on producingthe National Human Development Reportoin partnership withthe Government of Papua New Guinea
David McLachlan-Karr speaks at length about this ther issues of howthe Resource sector can better contribute tothe development ofthe Country.
- Glenn Banks:
- Don Polye: The two biggest contributors tothe National Budget have been Oil Search and Ok Tedi, how important are corporate taxes paid bythese two companies. Don Polye’s view on whther thatthese companies are paying enough tax or isthere a scope for them to pay even more tax in line withthe review that is currently being undertaken between treasury and IMF. And why ther major mines are not as big tax payers.
- Duncan Hardie (Waterford – Coal exploration): Background on Waterford, viability of coal exploration in PNG given low commodity price and high cost structures in PNG Support from MRA, most promising areas for coal exploration, possibility of discovering coal bed methane, Waterfords predictions for a successful surface coal industry in Papua New Guinea
