Preparations for the APEC Leaders’ Summit have heightened with the ground turning event for the construction of the new APEC Haus in Port Moresby.
The APEC Haus will host the Prime Ministers and Presidents of the 21 Member Economies when Papua New Guinea hosts the event come 2018.
The budget for the construction of the building stands at K120 million.
The APEC Haus will be built on reclaimed land at Ela Beach.
The design of the building is based on the shape of a lakatoi sail, and will showcase the sailing tradition of Papua New Guineans.
According to the Minister for Sports, National Events, and APEC 2018, Justin Tkatchenko, the APEC Haus will be an enduring legacy.
The building is being undertaken by Oil Search Ltd, through a tax credit scheme as was approved by the National Executive Council.
Oil Search Managing Director, Peter Botten, said the company was pleased to be able to partner with the Government and NCD to delivery this long term legacy building.
Global Construction won the bid through an Oil Search Tender to build the foundations and footing of the building. This is expected to be finished by February 2017.
Following that, another technical tender process will begin for the construction of the actual building, which will be expected to be completed by August 2018.
Later this afternoon Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, said in a statement that the APEC Haus will be the focus of global attention during APEC, and will be a national icon that will be used by generations of Papua New Guineans in the decades ahead.
