PNG is ready: Lupari

PNG is all set to deliver a secure and successful APEC 2018 Leaders’ Summit in November this year.

Chief Secretary to Government, Isaac Lupari, when addressing hundreds of APEC staff and officials at the International Convention Centre, confidently said PNG is ready to deliver the 3rd Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) and related meetings after having successfully delivered SOMs 1&2.

Chief Secretary told APEC staff that many people doubted that PNG was ready and able to host APEC in 2018.

However, he said the Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, proved them wrong as they delivered SOM1 and SOM2, successfully leading to SOM3, which is currently underway and will be the icing on the cake.

The staff will be involved in helping conduct a series of related meetings in the lead up to the APEC Leaders’ Summit from November 15-19th this year.

“The challenge with the provision of the security will never be easy but we are confident of providing a secure Leaders’ Summit this year,” he stated.

Lupari further thanked donor partners and countries like Australia, New Zealand, China, the United States and others who are helping with security preparations.

“The biggest challenge we have had was to prove to the APEC community that PNG was ready to host APEC in 2018 and we have shown and are going to show them that we will deliver APEC this year.

“The challenge for us today is we have started the race and we are almost there but have yet to cross the finishing line.

“It is about delivering the annual 2018 APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit in November this year and again we will have the twenty important world leaders on our shore.”

(Chief Secretary to Government, Isaac Lupari)

Author: 
Freddy Mou