The Papua New Guinea Institute of Directors (PNGID) and the Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) partnered to host a business breakfast on Monday 17th of March,2025 in Lae, Morobe Province. The event was sponsored by the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) to launch the PNGID’s Director Development Program in Lae. PNGID said that this is the first time the director development program has been officially conducted in Lae. “Present at the event were representatives from the Lae business community, Phil Franklin Deputy Chairman of IPA Board, John Byrne, President of LCCI, Graham Ainui, IPA Board member, IPA Managing Director Clarence Hoot, Christine Sumbuk PNGID Board member, PNG Institute of Directors CEO Megan Taureka-Andrew, with Lae based members of the PNG Institute of Directors. PNGID President of the Board of Directors Mr. Clarence Hoot expressed support for the director development program and other initiatives the organization is running. He said it is the intention of the board to implement the director development program across the country. “For 2025, the PNGID board has identified key priority areas such as raising standards of boards and institutions, growing the PNGID membership and building partnerships, increasing membership value and engaging in partnerships,” he said. Mr. Hoot urged businesses and SMEs in Lae to join PNGID and attend the director development programs. “By becoming members of the PNGID, your name will be published on our website for interested entities to see in the event, that they are seeking independent directors. As a member, you also subscribe to receive our newsletters and attend our networking events to expand your network,” he said. Mr. Hoot said in 2024, PNGID had a total of 450 members and so far, in the first quarter of 2025, we have a membership of 267 made up of 193 male and 74 female as our 2025 renewals continue. “As President, I urge the private sector, SME operators and youth to join PNGID to promote good governance across the country and to improve on our ongoing challenges. This is indeed an opportunity for us to bring change in a challenging environment,” he said. In highlighting some of the legislative reforms that the IPA is carrying out, Mr. Hoot said most of the laws are up to date with the Associations Incorporation Act. “We are now progressing the regulations and once approved, the IPA will call for re-registration of all associations just like we did in 2022-2023 for the limited companies, business names and business groups entities. I am happy to inform you all that the Online Registry is working smoothly thus far, but any specific issues experienced by businesses can be addressed when you reach out to IPA,” he said. Mr. Hoot said there will be a visit by a Fiji business delegation on March 24-27 led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica. He added that PNG is preparing to participate in the 2025 Osaka World Expo in Japan from April to October 2025. He encouraged the private sector interested in doing business with Japan and other Asian economies to reach out to IPA for further information on how they can participate in the expo. He thanked LCCI and PNGID for the inaugural business breakfast and said that IPA was pleased to be a partner of the inaugural event.