Local conglomerate Century Peak Holdings Corp., which is involved in mining and industrial production, is pursuing planned ventures in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Last June, the company’s management visited Port Moresby to explore opportunities in agriculture, real estate, manufacturing, and mining, which Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru indicated signaled the group’s intent to diversify and expand beyond its home market.

“This move aligns with PNG’s efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to bolster its resource-driven economy, particularly in underutilized sectors like large-scale agriculture,” according to the PNG official.

The visit included meetings with key officials, including Maru and the Mineral Resources Authority managing director, Jerry Garry, underscoring the strategic importance of the discussions.

The flagship Century Peak proposal is a 10,000-hectare mechanized rice farm in the Brown River area of Central Province, marking PNG’s first large-scale commercial rice operation.

This project has been in development for over 12 months, involving negotiations with landowners and the Department of Lands and Physical Planning.

However, delays stem from securing state titles for the land, which are essential for long-term leases and project agreements involving the state, Central Provincial Government, and landowners.

Maru has advocated for a resolution to designate the site as the “Central Rice Special Economic Zone” to promote agricultural industrialization.

Beyond agriculture, the local company is targeting property development in the Paga Hill Special Economic Zone in Port Moresby, a designated area for urban and commercial projects that aim to foster economic growth through incentives such as tax breaks.

Rebranding mirrors core shift

Century Peak was incorporated on 30 December 2003, initially under the name Fil-Hispano Holdings Corp, before rebranding to emphasize its core activities in resource extraction and processing.

It is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange and has a market capitalization that reflects its position in the diversified metals and mining industry.

The company oversees five key subsidiaries, each specializing in different aspects of its value chain: Century Peak Corp. handles core mining operations, including the management of nickel mines; Century Peak Mineral Development Corp. focuses on mineral exploration and development; Century Peak Cement Manufacturing Corp. is involved in cement production, leveraging mining byproducts; Century Sidewide Smelting Inc. manages smelting and refining processes for metals and Century Hua Guang Smelting Inc., which Specializes in advanced smelting technologies, often in partnership with foreign groups.

The company has emphasized sustainable mining practices amid global demand for nickel, driven by electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel production.

Financially, it has faced typical industry challenges, such as commodity price volatility, but has pursued expansion to mitigate risk.

As of late 2025, the company reported plans for domestic growth in areas like Bataan, Philippines, but its international ambitions, including PNG, represent a strategic pivot toward regional diversification.