Promote:
Invest in Papua New Guinea
A short guide for companies expanding into Papua New Guinea: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Papua New Guinea at a glance
PopulationEstimate
10.8 million
The World Bank reports a population of 10,762,817 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, population, Papua New Guinea, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$32.5 billion
The World Bank reports GDP of US$32,498,658,653.8415 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Papua New Guinea GDP in current dollars (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$3,020
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$3,019.5309140573 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, GDP per person, Papua New Guinea, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
5.6%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 5.63792052319458 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, real GDP growth, Papua New Guinea, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
7.0%
Consumer prices rose 7.0 percent in the year to the September quarter 2026, the National Statistical Office index shows.
Source: National Statistical Office, consumer price index, September quarter 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September quarter 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$-1.18 billion
Foreign direct investment inflows were negative US$1,180.943 million in 2025 in UNCTADstat data, meaning disinvestment exceeded new investment.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment, Papua New Guinea, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the kina.
Source: IMF, Papua New Guinea fifth reviews, Country Report 25/336, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The investment promotion agency is the Investment Promotion Authority, which also keeps the national company registry.
Source: Investment Promotion Authority, registry home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
The Investment Promotion Authority does not describe a one-stop shop for investors; the zone law gives businesses inside special economic zones one.
Source: Investment Promotion Authority, investor servicing page, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
As of October 30, 2026, foreign enterprises cannot be certified for the 39 activities on the Reserved Activities List; a proposed list of 11 awaits ministerial approval.
Source: Investment Promotion Authority, reserved activities consultation paper, June 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 6, 2025
As of 2025, per the WTO review, 22 special economic zones had formal approval; the zone authority publishes no list.
Source: WTO Secretariat, Papua New Guinea trade policy review, January 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 7, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Papua New Guinea
- Register a company, or register an overseas company, with the Companies Office at the Investment Promotion Authority under the Companies Act 1997.Investment Promotion AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Investment Promotion Authority, business registration and certification, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply to the Registrar of Foreign Investment for a Foreign Enterprise Certificate; the Investment Promotion Authority page says to apply within 14 days of registering.Investment Promotion AuthorityWritten notice of the decision within five working days of a complete applicationOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Investment Promotion Authority, business registration and certification, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get a tax file number from the Internal Revenue Commission before you trade or export.Internal Revenue CommissionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: National Trade Office, exporter procedures and export guide (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get any sector license your activity needs, such as fishing from the National Fisheries Authority; provincial and urban authorities also issue licenses.National Fisheries AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Investment Promotion Authority, business registration and certification, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more set-up step
- Ask your bank how it handles foreign exchange for investment inflows and profit transfers, because essential orders are cleared first.Bank of Papua New GuineaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: IMF, Papua New Guinea fifth reviews, Country Report 25/336, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with IPA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Investment agency and company registry
IPA
Investment Promotion Authority
Registers companies and business names, certifies foreign enterprises, and gives investors and exporters information on investing in and selling from the country.
- Meet requirements
Central bank
BPNG
Bank of Papua New Guinea
Runs the exchange rate arrangement and foreign exchange policy that authorized dealers apply to export and investment payments.
Visit BPNG (opens in a new tab)Source: IMF, Papua New Guinea fifth reviews, Country Report 25/336, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Get advice
Small business support agency
SME Corp
SME Corporation
Offers business advisory and capacity building services and growth programs for small and medium enterprises.
Visit SME Corp (opens in a new tab)Source: SME Corporation, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Customs
Papua New Guinea Customs Service
Takes export declarations through licensed customs brokers in ASYCUDA World and issues certificates of origin for preferential trade agreements.
Visit Customs (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO Secretariat, Papua New Guinea trade policy review, January 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 7, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
IRC
Internal Revenue Commission
Administers income and other taxes, including any export incentives under the income tax law, and publishes the stamp duties in force.
Visit IRC (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO Secretariat, Papua New Guinea trade policy review, January 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 7, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Private sector business council
BCPNG
Business Council of Papua New Guinea
Speaks for its private sector members in dialogue with government, including a government-to-business consultative forum and technical working groups.
Visit BCPNG (opens in a new tab)Source: Business Council of Papua New Guinea, home page, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
Lae Chamber
Lae Chamber of Commerce
Represents businesses in Morobe Province and publishes a weekly newsletter for members.
Visit Lae Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: Lae Chamber of Commerce, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
The IMF says access to foreign exchange has improved, but dealers still clear essential orders first, and staff report that tax clearance rules delay some payments.
What to do: Ask your bank how it ranks foreign exchange orders and what tax documents it needs before you agree payment terms.
Sources: IMF, Papua New Guinea fifth reviews, Country Report 25/336, 2025 (opens in a new tab); IMF, Papua New Guinea sixth reviews press release, June 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 12, 2025
Profit transfers
The IMF says recent foreign exchange supply let dealers clear some dividend orders, but commodity prices drove it and could reverse.
What to do: Expect delays when you send profits abroad, and ask your bank how it treats dividend orders.
Source: IMF, Papua New Guinea fifth reviews, Country Report 25/336, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 12, 2025
Reserved sectors
The Reserved Activities List bars foreign enterprises from 39 activities, and a proposed list of 11, sent to the Minister, is not in force.
What to do: Check your activity against both lists before you start a foreign-owned project.
Sources: Investment Promotion Authority, Reserved Activities List review, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab); Investment Promotion Authority, reserved activities consultation paper, June 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Foreign enterprise certificate
A certificate lapses if no business starts within a year, the holder must file an annual status report, and a missed filing can bring suspension.
What to do: Note the anniversary month of your certificate and file the report in that month.
Source: Investment Promotion (Amendment) Act 2023, certified May 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of May 29, 2023
Show 1 more
Public debt and arrears
The IMF says public debt is sustainable but at high risk of debt distress.
What to do: Ask the paying agency for written payment terms before you sign a government contract.
Source: IMF, Papua New Guinea fifth reviews, Country Report 25/336, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 12, 2025
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Papua New Guinea with other countriesSet Papua New Guinea beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Papua New Guinea project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Free to start. No card required.
Already have an account? Sign in
Promote:Papua New Guinea is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.