The two- day 2024 PNG Update has commenced today at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in Port Moresby city with much to talk about on an array of topics on pressing issues impacting the country and its people. Dr. Laurence Sause from the UPNG School of Business and Public Policy- programs and research, said the PNG Update is a platform whereby research based on credible data are presented to engage the views of participants and creating dialogue on topics of concern to the development of Papua New Guinea. “Much of what you will hear will be ideas that are coming out from research work of people who will be presenting in those two days,” said Dr. Sause. “Those research work entails the collection of data from engaging with the community and engaging with the society to find out exactly what is happening and collect evidence and present on the platform, which is the 2024 PNG Update.” The topics to be presented in the two days of the PNG Update range from the country’s economic outlook to geopolitics, agriculture, education and health, politics and governance, microeconomics, land issues, gender and gender-based violence, technology, security, infrastructure and development, and climate change. Organized by the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Business and Public Policy and the Australian National University’s Development Policy Centre, the PNG Update is the premier forum for the discussion of research and analysis relating to contemporary economic and public policy issues in PNG. The 2024 PNG Update is being held at the University of Papua New Guinea’s Waigani campus from the 21st to the 22nd of August with the theme, “Securing a stable Environment for Growth and Development”. Participants at the event include people from the industries, the government, the civil society, academics, students and interested members of the public.