<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">            <img src="images/flag.png" alt="" width="118" height="88" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Officially known as the<em> Independent State of Papua New Guinea</em>, it is located in the Oceanic continent in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Melanesian sub-region in the Pacific. The latitude and longitude for the country are 6 degrees 00’S and 47 degrees 00’E.The country occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands, lying north of Australia. The total land mass of the country is 462,840 square kilometers. Port Moresby the largest city and its capital, is located along the southeastern coast of the island.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The official currency used in Papua New Guinea is the Papua New Guinean Kina. Rugby league is by far the most popular sport triumphing over; rugby Union, cricket, Australian Rules football and Association football.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong><em>HISTORY</em></strong></span></p>
<p><strong><em>                        <img src="images/pngpeoples.jpg" alt="" width="303" height="201" />          <img src="images/pngdanceculture.jpg" alt="" width="326" height="208" />   </em></strong></p>
<p>The first arrival of humans to Papua New Guinea was around 42000-45000 years. Around 7000 BC, agriculture was developed in the New Guinea highlands; making it one of the few areas people independently domesticated plants. A major migration took place around 500 BC hence correlated with introduction of livestock farming and fishing techniques.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Papua New Guinea has been ruled by three countries since 1884. Germany ruled the northern half of the country known as <em>German New Guinea</em>, as a colony for some decades. In the same year United Kingdom colonized the southern half as <em>British New Guinea</em>.  In the 1905, it transferred this territory to Australia, taking on its administration. Hence, it was renamed the <em>Territory of Papua</em>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The nation established independence from Australia on 16 September 1975. The two countries still maintain close ties; with Australia being the largest aid donor to Papua New Guinea.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><strong><em>CLIMATE</em></strong></p>
<p> Papua New Guinea is one of the few regions close to the equator that experience snowfall, which occurs in the most prominent parts of the mainland.   </p>
<p>                    <img src="images/climatewinterpng.jpg" alt="" width="263" height="184" />    <img src="images/climatepapuanewguinea.jpg" alt="" width="355" height="183" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong><em>CULTURE</em></strong></span></p>
<p>Papua New Guinea is one of the most cultural diverse and rural countries in the world. Majority of the population still live in strong customary terms with only 18% of the population living in urban centers. It is one of the world’s least explored country; both culturally and geographically. There are thoughts that there are many undiscovered species of plants and animals to exist in the interior of the country.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It is believed that more than a thousand cultural groups exist in Papua New Guinea. As a result, many styles of cultural expressions have emerged be it art, dance, weaponry, costumes, singing, music, architecture and much more. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">                  <img src="images/historypnguinea.jpg" alt="" width="309" height="204" />      <img src="images/PNGHuli-Wigmen-New-Guinea-June.jpg" alt="" width="291" height="218" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>Ethnicity and Languages</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Papua New Guinea occupies hundreds of indigenous ethnic groups, the majority being known as Papuans. Other known groups are Austronesians, Chinese, Europeans, Australians, Filipinos, Polynesians and Micronesians.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Papua New Guinea has more languages than any other country, with over 820 indigenous languages, representing 12% of the world’s total, though most have fewer than 1000 speakers.<em> Enga</em> is the most widely spoken indigenous language with about 200,000 speakers, followed by <em>Melpa</em> and <em>Huli</em>. There are three official languages for Papua New Guinea:<em> English</em>, <em>Tok Pisin</em> and<em> Hiri Motu</em>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong><em>ECONOMY</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong><em>                <img src="images/markets_tropicals-softs_cocoapng.jpg" alt="" width="293" height="195" />        <img src="images/Oil-palm-harvesting.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="185" /></em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The strong growth in Papua New Guinea’s mining and resource sector has led to the country being the 6<sup>th</sup> fastest growing economy in the world as of 2011.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Papua New Guinea is extremely abandoned  with natural resources including mineral and renewable resources, such as forests, marine and agriculture.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Agriculture, mainly for subsistence use and cash crops, provides a livelihood for 85% of the population and contribute 30% to the country’s GDP. Palm oil is the main agricultural export for the country and coffee the major export crop. This is followed by cocoa and coconut oil/ copra.  Other productions include tea and rubber.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mineral deposit includes gold, oil and copper; amounts up to 72% of export earnings.  Oil palm has been a major production in recent years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Poverty is a main issue, when measured in money terms with about 33.33% of the population living on less than US$1.25 per day.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">                                                              <img src="images/Hidden_Valley_MMJVpng.jpg" alt="" width="419" height="278" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong><em>HEALTH</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death in New Guinea. The most recent reported year, 2003, 70226 cases confirmed malaria was reported.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Papua New Guinea has the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS in the Pacific region. It is the fourth country in the Asia Pacific region to fit the criteria for a generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic. The lack of awareness is a major problem, especially in rural areas.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong><em>RELIGION</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The major religion in Papua New Guinea is Christianity affiliating 96% of the population.  However, many citizens combine their Christian faith with some traditional indigenous religion practices. Other religious practices are the Baha’i Faith 0.3% and the Muslim religion having about 4000 followers.3.3% of the people still follow indigenous beliefs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">                                                                       <img src="images/chuchpapuanewg.JPG" alt="" width="350" height="275" /></span></p>
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