IPA – Certification of Foreign Enterprises

1. The Business Registration and Certification Division is also responsible for facilitating investments in Papua New Guinea, in line with Section 28 of the Investment Promotion Act, 1992.
2. The provision requires all foreign enterprises intending to operate in Papua New Guinea to be certified by the Authority before they proceed to conduct business in the country.
3. All Foreign Enterprises wishing to conduct business in Papua New Guinea must apply for formal IPA certificate. A foreign enterprise is a business entity which is wholly owned or that is 50 percent or more owned or controlled and managed by non-citizens.
4. A foreign enterprise must firstly register under the Companies Act 1997, which is administered by the Business Registration and Regulation Division (BR & R) of the IPA. A foreign company has two (2) options when registering with the Business Registration & Regulation Division.
5. The first option is to incorporate a new company in PNG. The other option is for a company that is incorporated (registered) under the laws of another country (overseas) to register as an Overseas Company under the Companies Act 1997.
6. All foreign companies incorporated or registered under the Companies Act, 1997 must apply within 14 days for Certification under the Investment Promotion Act, 1992.

Depending on the shareholders of the foreign company, supporting documents will differ.