About Us

The Institute of National Affairs is a privately funded, non-profit research “Think-tank”.

Around 80 Companies contribute to its running and management and they contribute sums between K25,000 and the minimum of K650 per year.

The institute was founded in 1976 by concerned individuals from both the Government and Private Sector to conduct independent research, analysis and promote dialogue between the Private Sector and Government and to contribute alternative advice to that being given by the public service. It continues that tradition today. 

Our Mission

• Improve the business and Investment climate so that Sustainable Development is achieved
• Make a contribution to the policies and directions of Government, through our Research, Consultation and Interactions with all levels of Government, the Private Sector and Civil Society.

Our Vision

• Provide an environment where PNG people can prosper and lead safe and meaningful lives.

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Our Primary Role

The INA’s primary role is to carry our research and disseminate the results as widely to the community, government departments, statutory institutions and politicians. Research is carried out by world -class academics, from some of the world’s leading universities, and the institute has a conscious policy of including academics in its research, where that is possible. The research is generally sponsored by PNG and International bodies. The research is published and made available to the public.

Who runs INA?

It is run by a council that is drawn from all walks of life and includes some of the leading businessmen. and public servants in Papua New Guinea. It also tries to encourage regional coverage so that research and activities are not too closely identified with those of the National Capital.

• Sponsors research by international and Papua New Guinea experts and publishes the results, research has been carried out into: the economy, taxation, land trade, coastal shipping, industrialisation, governance and law and order, exchange rates, agriculture, mining, small business, government expenditure, fisheries, forestry, social issues including addressing GBV, human capital formation and labour.
• Publishes research and discussion papers and speech series papers,
• Conducts public seminars on a wide range of subjects in its own right and in collaboration with other bodies within PNG and overseas and material for wider public discourse, inlcuding through the media and social media.
• Has the leading role in the organisation of the National Development Forum which brings together the government, private sector and civil society at least annually to allow all sides to hear opinions of others and to highlight problems and offer advice about solution to those problems.
• Provide regular commentaries on the economy in the print, radio and social media within PNG and overseas.
• Distributes the results of its research free of charge to politicians, public service and major libraries in PNG and overseas. Contributors receive research copies free of charge as well and the general public can purchase particular research papers at a moderate price.
• Assists in the bringing together of international bodies such as the World bank and the IMF with the private sector.
• From time-to-time co-ordinates private sector position papers on important issues and upon changes of government.
• Regularly the Institute engages in overseas forums international forums presenting PNG perspectives on economic, trade, social, governance and related development issues .
• Takes part in a wide range of advisory activities and task forces, which provide government with independent advice.
• Provides the secretariat and administration of the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council, (CIMC)

The INA is not a “lobby group” and does not represent any specific industry or firm although it will contribute to topics of national interest which coincide with the interests of an industry. The council has reaffirmed this important distinction because it believes that the reason INA has been able to have some influence on every government since independence is its reputation of impartiality.