March 19, 2025
Seminar | IFPRI Program / Country Event
The International Food Policy Research Institute, in collaboration with Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Department of Health and the Department of National Planning and Monitoring, will host a research seminar on “Informing Economic Growth and Food Security Opportunities in Papua New Guinea”, on March 21st, 2025.
As a part of 4 year economic and food system research program recently granted to IFPRI by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Australian High Commission (AHC) in Port Moresby and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), this seminar will discuss evidence-based research on both macroeconomic and microeconomic trends, risks and opportunities for PNG economic development.
| Registration and Coffee / Tea 8:30 – 9:00 |
| Keynote speakers 9:00 – 9:30 |
| Mr. Ivan Pomaleu OBE | Acting Chief Secretary, PMNEC |
| Dr. Cate Rogers | Minister Counsellor (Economics, Health and Infrastructure), DFAT |
| Dr. Norah Omot | Country Manager, ACIAR |
| Informing macro-economic trends and opportunities 9:30 – 10:15 |
| Dr. James Thurlow (IFPRI): Identifying Key Economic Risks in Papua New Guinea: Comparing World Prices and Domestic Productivity Uncertainty [Presentation] |
| Mr. Sanja Pepae (DNPM): Simulated impacts of Medium-Term Development Plan and exploration of diverse investments [Presentation] |
| Mr. Angga Pradesha (IFPRI): Transforming the PNG agrifood system: Understanding value chain investment impact on GDP growth, job creation, and poverty reduction [Presentation] |
| Discussants 10:15 – 10:35 |
| Mr. Michael Kumung | Deputy Secretary, Department of National Planning and Monitoring |
| Mr. John Uware | Deputy Secretary, Department of Treasury, Economic Policy Division |
| Question and Answer 10:35 – 10:50 |
| Coffee / Tea 10:50 - 11:10 |
| Food Security, household wellbeing and child development 11:10 – 12:00 |
| Dr. Emily Schmidt (IFPRI): Food security and poverty analysis using the 2023 PNG Rural Household Survey [Presentation] |
| Mr. Harry Gimiseve (IFPRI): Child growth & development in rural Papua New Guinea: Insights from the 2023 PNG Rural Household Survey [Presentation] |
| Mr. Brown Konabe (DAL): Opportunities to build a multi-sector National Food Security Policy [Presentation] |
| Discussants 12:00 – 12:10 |
| Dr. Sergie Bang | Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Livestock |
| Question and Answer 12:10 – 12:30 |
| Catered Lunch 12:30 – 13:30 |
| Strengthening value chains and entrepreneurship 13:30 – 14:15 |
| Mrs. Trudie Sikas-Iha (IFPRI): Opportunities and challenges to build coffee value chain competitiveness in PNG [Presentation] |
| Mr. Joe Koima (MVF): Moving towards market orientation: Market for Village Farmers activities, challenges and impact [Presentation] |
| Ms. Kathleen Natera (APEP): Key quantitative and qualitative findings from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Study 2024 [Presentation] |
| Discussant 14:15 – 14:35 |
| Dr. Nelson Simbiken | Director General, NARI Mr. Matthew'wela B Kanua | Senior Agriculture Advisor, APEP |
| Question and Answer 14:35 – 14:50 |
| Building opportunities and resilience to climate change 14:50 – 15:35 |
| Dr. Tim Thomas (IFPRI): Modeled climate risk for PNG: Assessment of taro and maize production under diverse climate scenarios [Presentation] |
| Mr. Rishabh Mukerjee (IFPRI): Preferences for voluntary carbon credit programs in Papua New Guinea [Presentation] |
| Discussants 15:35 – 15:55 |
| Mr. Iki Peter | Adaptation Manager, CCDA |
| Ms. Diana Gora | Director – Renewable Resources, PMNEC |
| Question and Answer 15:55 – 16:10 |
| Closing and Coffee / Tea 16:10 – 16:30 |
