Space Program of Papua New Guinea / New Guinean Space Program

Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern part of the world's second largest island and is prey to volcanic activity, earthquakes and tidal waves. Linguistically, it is the world's most diverse country, with more than 700 native tongues.

Some 80% of Papua New Guinea's people live in rural areas with few or no facilities.

Many tribes in the isolated mountainous interior have little contact with each other, let alone with the outside world, and live within a non-monetarised economy, dependent on subsistence agriculture.

OVERVIEW

Only around 1% of the land is suitable for growing cash crops, including coffee and cocoa, but abundant rainforests provide the raw material for a logging industry. Conservation groups have raised concerns about the social and environmental impact of the activity.

Mineral deposits - including gold and copper - are extensive, and there are reserves of oil and natural gas, but the difficult terrain and inadequate infrastructure make exploitation slow. The sector is an important source of revenue.

The separatist struggle in the neighbouring Indonesian province of Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya, prompted the flight of thousands of Papuans into Papua New Guinea from the mid-1980s onwards. Many of them remain in border-area jungle camps.

The Port Moresby government has said it will not tolerate the use of Papua New Guinean territory for Papuan separatist attacks on the Indonesian army.

Papua New Guinea had to deal with separatist forces of its own on the island of Bougainville in the 1990s. Up to 20,000 people were killed in the nine-year conflict which ended in 1997.

A peace deal signed in 2001 provided the framework for the election in 2005 of an autonomous government for Bougainville.

Papua New Guinea has strong ties with its southern neighbour, Australia, which administered the territory until independence in 1975. Canberra's substantial aid programme aims to relieve poverty and to boost development; Australia has also despatched police officers and civil servants to support their local equivalents.

But an Australian study warned in 2004 that Papua New Guinea risked economic and social collapse and said the country was a target for international crime. It suggested that Canberra should consider running Papua New Guinea's customs and border controls.

FACTS

Full name: The Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Population: 5.9 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Port Moresby
Area: 462,840 sq km (178,704 sq miles)
Major language: English (official), Pidgin, native languages
Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs
Life expectancy: 55 years (men), 56 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 kina = 100 toea
Main exports: Gold, petroleum, copper, coffee, palm oil, logs
GNI per capita: US $660 (World Bank, 2006)
Internet domain: .pg
International dialling code: +675

LEADERS

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Paulias Matane

Prime minister: Sir Michael Somare

The founding father of independent Papua New Guinea, Michael Somare came to power in August 2002 after a violent and chaotic election. His National Alliance party won the poll, and MPs unanimously elected Mr Somare as prime minister.

One of his first acts was to halt his predecessor's privatisation programme, saying the government needed more time to evaluate state assets.

Affectionately known as "The Chief", Mr Somare has twice before been Papua New Guinea's prime minister, and led the country to independence from Australia in 1975. He is widely regarded as being untainted by corruption.