Destination PNG
Papua New Guinea is a country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and a number of offshore islands. PNG is a land of contrasts, with its diverse cultures, traditional societies, rich natural resources and a fast growing economy.
Visitors to PNG enter mainly through the capital city, Port Moresby. It is the largest city and serves as a major transportation hub and gateway into the rest of PNG. Smaller airports in Rabaul and Mt Hagen also have regular flights to other countries.
Country
Once a German colony, PNG is now a British Commonwealth country, having gained its independence from Australia in 1975. The impact of its colonisations can be seen in the lifestyle, infrastructure and local language, pidgin.
PNG has more than 1000 ethnic groups and nearly 840 individual languages, making it one of the most diverse yet least explored country in the world. It is also largely rural, as only a small percent of its people live in urban centres. At the same time, PNG has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world, mainly due to its vast mining and natural resource industry.
Life
PNG has a tropical wet and dry climate and temperatures remain relatively constant throughout the year. Coastal cities are quite hot with average temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius. It is advisable to bring a sweater when travelling through the highlands as these mountain areas can get very cold. An umbrella or raincoat comes in handy due to the sudden tropical cloudbursts.
Subsistence farming is a way of life in PNG, so a large portion of the meals are vegetarian, with tropical fruits such as coconuts, mangoes, papayas and bananas often used in traditional meals. Chicken and fish also feature regularly on the menu, and pork is brought out for feasts and other auspicious occasions. Due to the relatively large expatriate population in Port Moresby, many restaurants serve up international cuisines.
Travelling around PNG is heavily limited by the country's mountainous terrain. While most major towns can be reached by plane or ship, remote villages can only be accessed by light aircraft, canoe or by foot. Within towns, private cars, buses and privately owned taxis are the main mode of transport.
PNG is often safe, secure and full of friendly people, however there are certain areas where it is advisable to take safety precautions.
Economy
The majority of Papua New Guineans live subsistence agricultural lifestyles in rural villages, and surplus food is traded in informal cash economies.
The formal economic sector is dominated by the capital-intensive mining and oil industries. New mines and high minerals yields have seen a stronger growth in the last few years. Gold, copper and crude oil are the highest earning export commodities to the country, with the fisheries and forestry sectors also providing notable contributions to the economy. The agricultural sector is more labour intensive, with coffee, vanilla, rubber and copra being significant exports in recent years.
Foreign aid is an important part of PNG's economy, with contributions from Australia, Japan, the EU, China, New Zealand and USA.
PNG is heavily dependent on imports for its daily needs such as food, health, shelter and human resources.
Accountancy Profession
Anyone offering accountancy, auditing and taxation services in PNG is required to have membership of the professional body and an appropriate certificate from the regulatory body. While CPA PNG is a professional body for the purpose, the Accountants Registration Board issues the appropriate certification of registration. Both these organisations are set up by an Act of Parliament, the Accountants Act of 1996.
Accountants from outside of PNG must show that they are fully qualified to be working as accountants and have full membership in an approved professional body. SICA, through its association to the Institute of Charted Accountants in India, is an approved professional body.
Helpline and Services
Certified Practicing Accountants Papua New Guinea http://www.cpapng.org.pg
Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority http://www.immigration.gov.pg
Market Profile of Papua New Guinea
http://www.austrade.gov.au/Export/Export-Markets/Countries/Papua-New-Guinea/Market-profile#.UxcuDVzhEpE
The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce & Industry http://www.pomcci.com
The National Online - local news http://www.thenational.com.pg
Papua New Guinea Tourism http://www.papuanewguinea.travel
