Education to Papua New Guinea

Trends and opportunities

The market

Australia's overall education services exports were valued at A$5.9 billion in 2003–04, an increase of 13 per cent over the previous year; making it one of the fastest growing export sectors. 

Papua New Guinea is only a small part of the overall market and differs in many ways from the usual education market, in that:

• Private students are generally sponsored by family or an employer
• Market size and affluence levels limit demand for places within Australian institutions
• Lower costs make on-shore training more attractive to employers

Within Papua New Guinea, there remains keen interest in obtaining secondary and tertiary education in Australia. Tertiary education of Papua New Guinean students in Australia is facilitated by the Australian Development Scholarship program funded by AusAID. 

Papua New Guinea’s economic decline over the past few years has resulted in an increasing interest in the delivery – within the country rather than offshore – of programs including: 

• Flexible distance education
• Vocational training
• Skills training

There is a critical shortage of skilled Papua New Guineans in the workforce – a situation exasperated by the erosion of the country’s education system:

• Only two per cent of those who commence primary education complete the final year of high school.
• Vocational training institutions are inadequately funded and poorly equipped.

Opportunities

Australia is the major foreign provider of training , principally via AusAID. Australia contributes approximately A$80 million per annum to education for Papua New Guinea. There are 100 Australian Development Scholarships awarded annually by the Papua New Guinea Australia Targeted Training Facility (PATTAP), the agency nominated by AusAID to screen and assess potential candidates.

There are also significant training components within institution-strengthening projects funded by AusAID each year, as well as through other donor agencies such as the World Bank, the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank.

Competitive environment

Papua New Guinea is an easily accessible market for Australian institutions due to:

• Historical links
• Significant use of the English language 
• Proximity
• Familiarity with the Australian culture

These factors, the small market size and the nature of the Australian Government funded scholarships makes Australia the natural supplier of education services to Papua New Guinea.

Tariffs, regulations and customs

Papua New Guinea has a single rate value added tax (VAT) of 10 per cent. The VAT is collected as part of the normal procedure at the point of entry. The customs valuation is calculated according to the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of the imported goods and the VAT is also charged on any customs or excise duty paid.

Papua New Guinea has undertaken a process of steady reduction in tariff rates since 1997.

As of January 2006 the tariff rate regime is:

• 0 per cent for goods if Papua New Guinea doesn’t produce that product. 
• 15 per cent goods used as inputs to businesses.
• 25 per cent for final goods competing with Papua New Guinea production. 
• 40 per cent for goods, competing with Papua New Guinea production and designated as in need special protection.

Specific duties, expressed in Kina per measure, are levied on beer, matches, and poultry meat, eggs and tobacco products.

Papua New Guinea Customs use the single column based on the Harmonised system. Most duties are applied ad valorem using the World Trade Organisation (WTO) valuation code guidelines of CIF value (as per Incoterms 1990)

Exporters should ascertain the duty rate that applies to its products, before export. Austrade can assist with this process.

Samples of no commercial value are admitted duty-free although sales tax may still be levied. Valuable samples are admitted, subject to invoice declaration, under a deposit or bond equivalent to normal duty. The deposit is refunded on re-export of the samples.

It may be necessary to obtain a work permit if intending to deliver training courses in person in Papua. A work permit is generally valid for a period of up to three years. Further information on work permit requirements and application procedures can be obtained from a Papua New Guinea consulate in Australia or from the Papua New Guinea Department of Labour and Employment.

Industry standards

Australian education and training standards are commonly used in Papua New Guinea and form the basis for most criteria applied by educational institutions and by industry in the delivery of curricula, courses and programs in Papua New Guinea.

Marketing your products and services

Market entry

It is essential to visit Papua New Guinea on a regular basis in order to gain an appreciation of the market’s opportunities and the issues that affect potential students. In the absence of any independent event organisers, Austrade facilitates market entry by arranging annual education and training displays that visit several centres in Papua New Guinea.

dvertising, in-market promotion, and personal contact are the best means of marketing education and training services in Papua New Guinea. Austrade can assist in identifying appropriate contacts, according to need, and making suitable arrangements.

Distribution channels

Unlike many Asian countries, Papua New Guinea lacks suitable agents to represent the interests of education and training service providers. Instead, interested Australian organisations are encouraged to form a partnership with a corresponding Papua New Guinea institution in order to promote their services.

Due to inadequate and unstable communications links, the Internet has not made a great impact in Papua New Guinea. Few institutions have websites, or even reliable email links, and many are still without Internet access – especially outside Lae and Port Moresby.

Transport

Physical distribution within Papua New Guinea can be complex due to:

• Geographic fragmentation
• Small market centres
• Contrasting demographic centres
• Lack of an extensive transport network

For these reasons, most goods are air or sea freighted. Air courier services are the faster means of means of delivery.

Qantas and Air Niugini service the international passenger and cargo market.

Links and industry contacts

Education-related resources

International Education Agency of PNG (IEA) – www.iea.ac.pg
PO Box 6974
Boroko NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 325 3814
Fax: (675) 325 8193

Papua New Guinea Australia Targeted Training Facility (PATTAF) – www.pattaf.org.pg
PATTAF Private Mail Bag
Port Moresby Post Office
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 321 1766
Fax: (675) 321 1828

Department of Education
PO Box 446
Waigani NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 301 3446
Fax: (675) 323 1031

Department of Personnel Management
PO Box 519
Waigani NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 327 6379
Fax: (675) 327 6419

National Training Council
PO Box 1170
Boroko NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 320 0247
Fax: (675) 320 0639

Government, business and trade resources for Papua New Guinea

Investment Promotion Authority – www.ipa.gov.pg
Nationwide PNG Pages – www.nationwidepngpages.com  
PNG Directory – www.pngdirectory.com
Papua New Guinea Business Resources Directory – www.apngbc.org.au

Australia PNG Business Council – www.apngbc.org.au
PO Box 3383
Weston ACT 2611
Australia
Tel: (02) 6231 9399
Fax: (02) 6231 9403

Department of Trade and Industry
PO Box 375
Waigani NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 323 1179 or 325 5816
Fax: (675) 323 1109 or 325 6108

Papua New Guinea Internal Revenue Commission
PO Box 777
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 322 6600
Fax: (675) 321 4249

National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology
PO Box 3042
Boroko NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 323 5339
Fax: (675) 325 6793

Department of Labour & Employment
PO Box 5644
Boroko NCD
Tel: (675) 321 7408
Fax: (675) 320 1062

Service providers:

Financial

Export Finance Insurance Corporation – www.efic.gov.au

Touche Tohmatsu – www.deloitte.com.pg 
PO Box 1275
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 308 7000
Fax: (675) 308 7001

Frank J de Graaf
PO Box 5999
Boroko NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 325 6366
Fax: (675) 325 0984

KPMG
PO Box 507
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 321 2022
Fax: (675) 321 2780

Michael Mayberry Chartered Accountant
PO Box 1988
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 320 1988
Fax: (675) 320 1989

PricewaterhouseCoopers – www.pwcglobal.com 
PO Box 484
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 321 1500
Fax: (675) 321 1428

Sinton Spence
PO Box 6861
Boroko NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 325 7611
Fax: (675) 325 9389

Smiths
PO Box 487
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 321 7099
Fax: (675) 321 7183

Legal

Allens Arthur Robinson Lawyers – www.aar.com.au 
PO Box 1178
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 320 2000
Fax: (675) 320 0588

Blake Dawson Waldron Lawyers – www.bdw.com.au 
PO Box 850
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 309 2000
Fax: (675) 309 2099

Gadens Lawyers – www.gadens.com.pg 
PO Box 1042
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 321 1033
Fax: (675) 321 1885

Norton White Lawyers and Notaries
PO Box 21
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 321 1788
Fax: (675) 321 2195

Pacific Legal Group
PO Box 904
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 321 7477
Fax: (675) 321 3491

Warner Shand Lawyers
PO Box 1817
Port Moresby NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 325 4422
Fax: (675) 325 0682

Logistics

Qantas – www.qantas.com.au/freight/dyn/contacts/australasia
Papua New Guinea Online – www.niugini.com
Commercial forum – www.pngtradepost.com.pg 
Air Niugini – www.airniugini.com.pg  (the national airline)

Media

Post-Courier Online – www.postcourier.com.pg
The National Online – www.thenational.com.pg
The Independent – www.niugini.com/independent 

Australian resources

Australian High Commission
Godwit Road
(Locked Bag 129)
Waigani NCD
Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 325 9333
Fax: (675) 325 9183

Operating hours:
Monday to Friday, 7.45am-4.15pm

Department of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 422
Waigani, NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: (675) 301 4121 or (675) 301 4122
Fax: (675) 325 4886

Papua New Guinea High Commission
39-41 Forster Crescent
Yarralumla ACT 2600
PO Box E432 Kingston ACT 2604
Tel: (02) 6273 3322 
Fax: (02) 6273 3732

South Pacific Trade Commission
Level 30, 133 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel:  (02) 9283 5933
Fax: (02)  9283 5948

Contact details

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Federal Government agency that helps Australian companies win overseas business for their products and services by reducing the time, cost and risk involved in selecting, entering and developing international markets.

Austrade offers practical advice, market intelligence and ongoing support (including financial) to Australian businesses looking to develop international markets. Austrade also provides advice and guidance on overseas investment and joint venture opportunities, and helps put Australian businesses in contact with potential overseas investors.

A list of Austrade offices (in alphabetical order of country) is available.

More information

For further information please contact Austrade on 13 28 78 or email info@austrade.gov.au

(Last updated: 13 Jul 2007)