Why APEC matters for PNG

APEC will help PNG find ways to improve its competitiveness by upgrading its physical infrastructure and policies.

This was the statement by Carlos Kuriyama, Senior Analyst at the APEC Secretariat in Singapore.

Carlos Kuriyama was one of the three panelists at the APEC Discussion Series at UPNG this week.

The theme of the event was ‘Why APEC matters for PNG?’, where Papua New Guineans joined local and international APEC experts for a dialogue on the importance of hosting the region’s premier economic forum.

Kuriyama spoke on the benefits APEC brought to his home country Peru, where he was previously a government official at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism and served as Chief Negotiator of the Peru-China FTA negotiation.

He also touched on the digital opportunities that PNG would benefit from as well, such as job creation.

This falls in line with the APEC 2018 theme of: ‘Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future’.

He said with the internet and mobile connectivity, businesses will be able to find their customers, and vice versa.

Lady Aivu Tauvasa, Deputy Chair of Nambawan Super, was also one of the panelists at the event.

She spoke of the legacy that will be left behind after APEC, for example, the physical infrastructure that were mostly, and will be, built in the nation’s capital.

Lady Aivu also believes that APEC could be used as a platform to push PNG’s agendas, such as women and youths’ issues.

The discussion was the second in the series, and the events will continue each month until November.

The series is hosted by the PNG APEC Secretariat and the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct, supported by the PNG – Australia Partnership.

(From left: Panelists Carlos Kuriyama, Lady Aivu Tauvasa and Ken Waller, Executive Director of the APEC Business Advisory Council)

Author: 
Carmella Gware