With the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit planned to take place in the nation’s capital, other meets and programmes have been already been organised in preparation for the international event.
Recently, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced that New Ireland Province will be host to the APEC Tourism Ministers Meeting that will happen next April as a prelude to the APEC Leaders’ Summit in November, 2018.
O’Neill informed a huge crowd in Kavieng last week and said the tourism meet will make an important contribution to the growing sector.
“Hosting an APEC meeting is a very effective way to promote tourism and culture in regional centres, as well as encourage skills transfer and local capacity development.”
“We try to promote tourism, and here, we will have tourism ministers from 21 of the most powerful countries in the world here in Kavieng.
“What a great opportunity for you to display the tourism potential of Kavieng and New Ireland,” O’Neill said.
Although many have expressed views against the idea of Papua New Guinea hosting the APEC Leaders’ Summit, others see the benefits of hosting such an international event. But while many people have their opinions about it, it is not something that Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, will pull away from. He has confirmed that the 2018 APEC Leaders’ Summit will go ahead.
Kavieng is only one of the regional centres that will host major APEC meetings as a lead up to the Summit.
Other towns are Alotau for the APEC Transportation Ministers Meeting in October 2017, Madang for the Informal Senior Officials Meeting in December 2017, and Goroka for the Human Resources Ministerial Meeting.
“APEC is a national priority for Papua New Guinea and it has the support of the APEC member countries. And we want to deliver a unique and most outstanding APEC Meeting for Papua New Guinea and the APEC community,” O’Neill said.
