In Sydney
Jennifer Bartlett
Tel: +61 2 9235 6507
Email: jbartlett@ifc.org
In Hong Kong
Andrew Mak
Tel: +852 2509 8110
Email: amak@ifc.org
October 30, 2006
IFC Promotes Tourism Development in Papua New Guinea
The International Finance Corporation’s Private Enterprise Partnership-Pacific is joining Papua New Guinea’s Tourism Promotion Authority and Investment Promotion Authority to conduct a Tourism Project Development Workshop. The event will take place from November 6th to 10th at Kumul Lodge in Enga Province.
The workshop has been designed to equip local entrepreneurs, government advisors, and finance industry representatives with the knowledge and skills they need to prepare, advise on, or evaluate viable tourism projects for Papua New Guinea. The goal is to ensure that business owners and investors are well-prepared to establish and manage a sustainable tourism operation.
Some 25 delegates have registered to attend the event, and the speakers include John Perrottet and Jennifer Bartlett of IFC; Dain Simpson, Associate Consultant for the European Union's Centre for Development of Enterprise; Peter Vincent, Chief Executive of the Tourism Promotion Authority; and Ivan Pomelau, Managing Director of the Investment Promotion Authority.
Workshop convenor John Perrottet, who manages PEP-Pacific’s tourism program, said the event is one of several technical assistance projects that PEP-Pacific will be conducting in Papua New Guinea. “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the tourism and investment authorities to build the capacity of project proponents and intermediaries,” he added.
A second workshop is to be held in early 2007 in the coastal and islands regions of Papua New Guinea.
About IFC
The International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, is the largest multilateral provider of financing for private enterprise in developing countries. IFC finances private sector investments, mobilizes capital in international financial markets, facilitates trade, helps clients improve social and environmental sustainability, and provides technical assistance and advice to businesses and governments. From its founding in 1956 through FY06, IFC has committed more than $56 billion of its own funds for private sector investments in the developing world and mobilized an additional $25 billion in syndications for 3,531 companies in 140 developing countries. With the support of funding from donors, it has also provided more than $1 billion in technical assistance and advisory services. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About PEP-Pacific
PEP-Pacific is a multidonor funded initiative managed by IFC. Its primary objective is poverty reduction through employment-generating private sector development, with efforts focusing on access to finance, tourism, and business climate development. PEP-Pacific works with partners to strengthen and stimulate small and medium enterprises so that they can grow, helping create more and better jobs, raise living standards, and alleviate poverty. Through PEP-Pacific, IFC serves member countries including Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu.
