Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has again assured the country that the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) Summit will transform the face of the country.
He said PNG has been a member of APEC for more than 25 years and it’s about time the country hosts the summit.
O’Neill was responding to Opposition Leader Don Polye about the costings involved in hosting the event.
Polye said the country is confused as to whether O’Neill is giving an accurate costing or the National Events and APEC Minister, Justin Tkatchenko.
Tkatchenko, earlier on TVWan’s Nau talkback program, said Papua New Guinea will spend K600 million to host the 21 heads of APEC member states in 2018.
He said the cost not only covers the 2018 APEC Leaders’ Summit but also APEC Ministerial Meetings, which started last year and will run until the main Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby.
This statement raised doubts with the Opposition, claiming that the cost is too much for the country given the current economic crisis.
Meanwhile, O’Neill in a media statement called on the Opposition to show maturity as PNG prepares to host APEC, and not try to politicise these important national events.
In parliament today, he said the cost of hosting the APEC will be significantly less than K600 million.
APEC will bring great opportunity for Papua New Guinea and will promote the nation to the international community, stated the PM.
O’Neill said the government will not be building new infrastructure for APEC as business communities have shared the burden because they have confidence in the government.
APEC will also improve security and enhance regional policy development in areas such as agriculture, marine resources, tourism and SMEs, added O’Neill.