PM O'Neill promotes Lae port to APEC leaders

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has promoted the role of Lae as a transportation centre for trade between Asia and the Pacific Islands in his discussion with leaders from APEC economies.
He made the comments during an intervention speech to the APEC Summit in Beijing this week when leaders discussed ways to strengthen connectivity between APEC member economies.  
He also highlighted the need for APEC economies to work together to overcome obstructions or bottlenecks to trade.
"The Asia-Pacific covers such an immense area, so for an island nation like Papua New Guinea, enhancing connectivity is a priority,"  O'Neill said.
"We continue to build our direct linkages for the movement of people, goods, and knowledge and information across borders.
"Papua New Guinea is a hub between the larger economies of the Asia-Pacific and the smaller Pacific Island states. 
"We are expanding our seaport facilities that will see the city of Lae become an important hub for shipping in our part of the Asia-Pacific region.
"A wide-ranging construction programme has been implemented in Lae that has increased the wharf capacity dramatically."
During their meeting, APEC leaders endorsed a number of initiatives that will help to strengthen trade through national ports, including the Blueprint on Connectivity, that will seek to prevent interruptions to the movement of goods as well as services.
"Papua New Guinea welcomes the APEC Blueprint on Connectivity and the implementation plan which establishes our next steps and milestones for progress," O'Neill said.
"For a country like Papua New Guinea, obstructions and bottlenecks in supply chains can have more devastating effects than in other economies.
"We do not have the economies of scale that can absorb and balance interruptions.  The cost to large businesses can lead to losses in the millions, while interruptions to small businesses can be devastating."
The Prime Minister noted that with the blueprint being adopted, a related capacity building plan to improve supply chain performance woulf be particularly important for Papua New Guinea.  
"Advancing this connectivity agenda will have flow-on effects for smaller island states for whom Papua New Guinea is a transportation hub,"he said.
"The funding and capacity building support that comes with this plan will assist Papua New Guinea in implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement."
"APEC leaders agreed that collectively they expect to reach the target of a 10% improvement in supply chain performance by 2015, and this plan will strengthen Papua New Guinea's capacity to play its part in reaching this goal."

PM O'Neill at APEC CEO Summit

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has provided more than 1,000 Asia-Pacific CEOs and leading businesspeople with greater insight to business and investment potential of Papua New Guinea. 
Participating in a panel discussion at the APEC CEO Summit in Beijing this week,  O'Neill focused on the fundamentals of PNG's development as indicators of long-term economic growth and stability.  These include education, healthcare and infrastructure development, and were discussed in the context of the APEC CEO Summit session topic of "Inclusive Growth."
O'Neill said one of the main approaches the PNG Government  was focusing on was ensuring education became compulsory for all school-aged children from Grade 1 to 12.
"Having access to decent education is one key area that strengthens our community and our economy," he told with delegates.
"Higher literacy rates is an outcome of proper education and enables people to further acquire better skills and get better jobs.
"As part of our focus on these core areas, we are also ensuring that government resources, especially funding, is delivered directly to local communities."
He said for the first time in the country's history, national government funds wrrr being delivered directly to the district and community level, which were aimed at providing basic services that support education, health, law and order and infrastructure locally.
O'Neill informed delegates that for the medium term, Papua New Guinea's economy would reach double-digit growth in 2015.
"This will again enable us to further distribute more services to our local communities," he said.
O'Neill  also made the point that there were a number of similarities between PNG's development and the experiences of partner countries, and that all nations could learn form each other.
"We are learning from internal migration experience especially from countries like China, India and many others in the region. 
"We are also looking at experiences in these countries where small businesses have grown to become large companies, resulting in the improvement of living standards for themselves as well as their community."
O'Neill said this was knowledge and experience that was shared between government and businesses from around the region through participation in forums such as the APEC CEO Summit.

APEC free trade welcomed with careful implementation

The Prime Minister yesterday attendef the second day of the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Beijing, China.
Working to the theme of "Shaping the future through Asia-Pacific partnership," leaders discussed next generation trade and investment issues and progress to establish an eventual Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).
In his intervention at the Leaders' Meeting, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill expressed his optimism for an FTAAP in the future while at the same time urging the region to proceed with care so as to ensure the viability of small and potentially vulnerable businesses.
"The general consensus was that an FTAAP is positive and will improve transport and logistics in the region, increase trade and create jobs," the Prime Minister said.
"This long-term goal has been advanced by APEC since 2006 and we are taking gradual steps towards it being realised.
"Specifically for Papua New Guinea, ongoing and deeper regional economic integration is essential as a source for trade, and importantly for investment, in order to continue to grow our economy."
"Within the APEC region, Papua New Guinea already has strong government-to-government and business-to-business engagement with most of our economic engagement being within the APEC region."
However, the Prime Minister said any FTAAP should be advanced with consideration of all stakeholders, and communication with people affected by policy and regulatory change as an essential part of the process.
"Deepening multilateral engagement can at times be challenging and controversial, particularly for developing nations, both large and small, were some sectors have not reached a level where competition is sustainable just yet.
"Change must be measured and properly implemented according to timetables that do not harm domestic sectors, while at the same time enable Papua New Guinea to embrace international opportunities.
"It is incumbent upon all governments to communicate with stakeholders such as businesses and other employers.
"We must provide information on both the challenges, and importantly the opportunities afforded by increased engagement in the multilateral trading system."
The Prime Minister said he welcomes the APEC Beijing Road Map on Regional Economic Integration, that was endorsed by APEC Leaders, as a positive development.
"Beijing Road Map on Regional Economic Integration that will provides a step-by-step approach to attaining our broader goal of an FTAAP."

K13 million study of Ramu Highway upgrade

Australian High Commission

A major upgrade to one of Papua New Guinea’s national priority highways will be scoped and designed following a contract signing on November10,  2014.
The scope and design study of the Ramu-Madang Highway is part the Joint Understanding between Australia and Papua New Guinea on Further Bilateral Cooperation on Health, Education and Law and Order. 

A section of the Ramu-Madang Highway.-Picture courtesy of Australian High Commission

 The K13 million study will examine ways to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, flood resilience and traffic capacity, while decreasing maintenance costs and travel times. It will also examine any alternative routes under consideration.
 “The study will support economic investment along the Ramu Highway and adjacent areas, as well as offering an alternative corridor from the Highlands to coastal ports,” Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Ms Deborah Stokes, said.
 Secretary of the Department of Works, Mr David Wereh, noted the Ramu Highway Scoping and Design Study will contribute to the strategic objectives outlined in the PNG Medium Term Development Plan and the National Transport Strategy.
 “The Ramu Highway is one of 16 national priority highways in PNG. The highway is a key transport link between Lae and Madang and supports important mining and agro-industrial activities, specifically beef, sugar and palm oil production. PNG appreciates the Australian Government’s support for the study and options for reconstruction,” Mr Wereh said.
 The contract is part of the PNG-Australia Transport Sector Support Program - Australia’s long-term commitment to support the development of PNG’s transport network. An international competitive procurement process resulted in the selection of the Ramu Gateway Joint Venture, comprising Shawmac, Infra Tech and ATZ, to implement the study.
 Representative of the Ramu Gateway Joint Venture, Mr Brian Hartley, said: “We are pleased to have been selected to lead the Ramu Highway study to investigate and assess engineering solutions to challenges including major slip activity and river crossings and develop options for a durable and maintainable road for the long-term. As part of the contract, we will identify the various costing options for the highway’s upgrade to support future government investment decisions.”

 The Joint Understanding commitments by Australia and PNG also include the redevelopment of the Lae ANGAU Memorial Hospital, deployment of 50 Australian Federal Police advisors; scoping and design of the lower courts in Port Moresby; and support for the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure at the University of PNG.

Philippines, Papua New Guinea to enhance trade and investment cooperation

PNA

BEIJING, China, Nov. 10 — The Philippines and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are moving for the enhancement of their trade and investment cooperation, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has said.
"The Philippines has committed to send a scoping mission to Papua New Guinea for trade and investment cooperation," del Rosario said following a bilateral meeting held Monday morning between President Benigno S. Aquino III and Prime Minister Peter O'Neill on the sidelines of the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Chief Executive Officers' Summit here.
He also said the Philippines wants to advance its cooperation in health services because it appears that the country is emerging as a favored destination for "medical tourism."
"We are being asked to advance our cooperation in education, specifically technical and vocational programs. It seems that many PNG nationals are now studying in the Philippines," the Foreign Affairs chief told reporters during a media briefing held at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.
Del Rosario also mentioned a discussion on the deepening of a cooperation in agriculture between Manila and Port Moresby. He said the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute is currently exploring suitable rice species for Papua New Guinea.
Both countries also agreed to cooperate with each other during their respective hosting of the APEC Summits in the near future.
"As you probably know, PNG will chair in 2018. And so, we are being asked to cooperate with PNG as we seek their cooperation for our chairmanship in 2015," del Rosario said. (PNA)

PM O’Neill at APEC: Papua New Guinea’s role as gateway between Asia and the Pacific

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill  has begun his first full day of APEC related meetings taking place in Beijing, China, this week.
Accompanied by key ministers involved in the policy and logistics of APEC activities between now and 2018, the Prime Minister met with other regional leaders and spoke to more than 1,000 senior business people.
In bilateral meetings with counterpart leaders, O'Neill highlighted a range of issues that are central to further strengthening Papua New Guinea's economy.
"Papua New Guinea is a gateway to the Pacific Islands for Asian countries,"  O'Neill sad following the bilateral meetings.
"We are utilising our position as a crossroads between Asia and the Pacific Islands to strengthen trade, increase skills and improve the lives of people in our region."
The bilateral meetings undertaken by the Prime Minister and his delegation were with the leaders of Viet Nam, Thailand, the Philippines and China.
The Prime Minister also participated in the APEC CEO Summit, a dialogue of more than 1,000 CEOs from around the world that takes place in conjunction with the APEC Economic Leaders' Summit.
Appearing alongside O'Neill on the panel was H.E. llanta Humala, the President of Peru; Richard Adkerson, President and Vice Chairman of Freeport-McMoRan; and, Akio Mimura, the Honorary Chairman of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation.
The topic of the panel discussion was: ­"Towards Inclusive Growth: Is Economic Growth the Answer to Rising Global Inequality?"
The Prime Minister provided perspective on inclusive growth as this relates to Papua New Guinea's approach to economic development.
"We must be inclusive with the growth that we're experiencing so that this is shared by all,"  O'Neill said to the APEC CEO Summit.
"It is not just about income it's about a better quality of life for our people in a range of areas.
"To overcome inequality we need to give people support and develop the necessary skills that they need to contribute to the economy."
He made the point that reducing inequality required attention to core services that empower people to take part in the economy such as healthcare, education, law and order, and infrastructure.
"Access to universal healthcare is enabling our people to be more healthy so that they can be productive in the economy and this helps their community.
"Education and skills training is also essential to empower the next generation when they leave our schools.
"We have implemented a free education policy so that all Papua New Guinea children have to go to school.  This will advance literacy rates and we will have a much better educated and trained population.
"We have increased our spending on law and order initiatives and this is making the places people live and work safer."
The Prime Minister added that the provision of new infrastructure was essential but it had to not just be in major cities.
"We are putting national government funds into local level projects," he said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that overcoming inequality can be a difficult path to navigate, but governments have a responsibility to deal with the issue.
"Yes, we there have been some challenges.  We are learning from the past and we are learning from experience of people in other countries who have had similar growth challenges such as urbanisation."
The Prime Minister is attending the APEC Business Advisory Council Dialogue with fellow leaders in the afternoon of November 10, while formal APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Plenary Sessions take place today.
The Ministers attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting with the Prime Minister are Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato; Trade and Industry Minster, Richard Maru; and, Minster for National Events Justin Tkatchenko.

Pacific Games venues need work: Council urges Papua New Guinea to continue efforts

Written by Pacific Daily News

The Pacific Games Council said in a news release that it accepts some of the venues for the 2015 Pacific Games won't be fully completed in advance.

 

"Recent developments have gone another step toward satisfying the council that Papua New Guinea will be ready to host the Pacific Games in 2015," said Vidhya Lakhan, president of the Pacific Games Council. "The council's confidence levels continue to improve, but critically important work remains to be done to guarantee a successful Pacific Games in 2015."
Lakhan and Andrew Minogue, the council's executive director, are visiting Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea this week to assess the state of preparations for the 2015 Pacific Games, the news release stated.
"I urge the government of Papua New Guinea and the minister responsible for the games to continue their efforts to ensure that all stakeholders, especially government departments and statutory bodies, work together and with a renewed sense of urgency to bring the final preparations for the 2015 Pacific Games to a positive conclusion," Lakhan said.
During a July visit, the council urged all stakeholders to redouble efforts to get venues finished well in advance of July 2015, the news release stated, to allow the 2015 Pacific Games Organising Committee "sufficient time to take possession of the venues, test them, and install the necessary overlay, technology and other services required to deliver successful competitions at the games."
This week's visit was planned to assess Papua New Guinea's progress, so final decisions could be made as to where each sport will be conducted, the news release stated.
The council did say "very significant progress has been made in the construction program over the past four months."
The council said arrangements must be made "for the hand-over of clean, secure and safety certified venues to the (organizing committee) by next May at the latest."
"There is no reason, given Papua New Guinea's rich and proud heritage of participation in the Pacific Games and having hosted the event so successfully twice before, that this immediate objective cannot be obtained," Lakhan said.