About




Our Vision


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






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, Consultations and Interaction with all levels of Government, the Private Sector and Civil Society. 




What is the Institute of National Affairs (INA)?


The Institute of National Affairs is a privately funded, non-profit research “think-tank”. Around 80 companies contributed to its running and management and they contributed sums of between K25,000 and the minimum of K500 per year.
It was founded in 1979 by concerned individuals from both the Government and the Private Sector to promote dialogue between the Private Sector and Government and to offer alternative advice to that being given by the very dominant
public service. It continues that tradition today. 





Our Primary Role


The INA’s primary role is to carry our research and disseminate the results as widely as possible to the community, government departments, statutory institutions, learning 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 PNG academics inits 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. 





WHAT we do


  • Sponsors research by international and Papua New Guinean experts and publishes the results. Research has been carried out into: the economy, taxation, land trade, coastal shipping, industrialization, law and order, exchange
    rates, agriculture, mining, small business, Government Expenditure, fisheries, Forestry, GBV, Human Capital Formation and Labour. 
  • Publishes smaller research 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.
  • Has the leading role in the organisation of National Development Forum which brings together the government, private sector and civil society at least annually to allow all sides to hear the options of others and to highlight
    problems and offer advice about solution to those problems.
  • Provides regular comment on the economy in the print, radio and electronic media both within PNG and overseas.
  • Distributes the results of its research free of charge to politicians, public servants and major libraries in PNG. Contributors receive copies of this research free of charge and the general public can purchase it 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.
  • From time to time represents the PNG private sector at overseas forums by invitation from bodies like World Bank, Asian Development Bank, APEC, European Union, Australian Government, and the Australian National University.
  • 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)





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 Port Moresby. 





WHAT the ina does not do?


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 that the INA has been able to have some influence on every government since independence is its reputation of impartiality.





results of our work


Government may not always agree with the findings from INA research or its commentaries but it accepts that it is made on a non-partisan and non-political basis. The INA has taken the lead in promoting discussion and dialogue
with government on matters that affect the economy and the society, it has promoted National Development Forums in one form or another for more than forty years. These have not always achieved results but they have kept
open an accepted and respected process by which both sides can air their opinions.

Since 1998, this process has been extended by the formation of the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC). Organised by the INA this Council has widened the consultative process to include civil society,
which includes the churches, NGOs, unions, women groups, youth groups and concerned individuals. The CIMC has twelve sectoral committees which meet on a regular basis and offer advice and criticism on subjects which deal
with their own sector. This process has achieved a number of important results and has gained the respect and ears of the government.