APEC 2018

The battalion marched a combined 27 km along the Magi highway towards their battalion headquarters at Taurauma.

The March was a culmination of their Mission Rehearsal exercise as part of their APEC 2018 security preparations.

According to the Battalion Commander, Lt Colonel Boniface Aruma, the march is part and parcel of any training ahead of major troop operations.

He said that as part of the fitness assessment activity each soldier is required to complete a 27km march with a 30kg pack in full field gear.

Colonel Opa Lari, Deputy Commander of the Joint Security Task Force, says all the agencies are at the end of the planning stage and are now into preparatory stages.

The Col explained that the exercise rehearsals will see them trial out their main operational plans, adding that the defence force will be providing capabilities that are not vested with the police.

The event was hosted by PNG Customs Service Acting Commissioner, Border Security and Regional Operations, Benjamin Sine, and Australian Department of Home Affairs Regional Director Pacific, James Watson.

The meeting was held on Tuesday 5 June in Port Moresby, and provided an opportunity to continue developing the already strong people-to-people links between the agencies.

While manual survey is the tried and true method of collecting data, technology and digital means are rapidly taking over.

Technologies such as biometrics, remote sensors and barcoding all boil down to data revolution and NSO is working towards tapping into this.

“In NSO, in our legislation, we need to insert something to talk about transfer of data from business to us. We are doing it but not effectively and consistently,” emphasized national statistician, Roko Koloma.

Under the core theme of “Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future”, the APEC program, which kicked off in March, is focused on improving connectivity and digital inclusion to bridge the digital divide in the APEC community and boost social and economic growth.

In a recent interview with OBG, David Toua, chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council, highlighted the ways PNG can leverage its membership in APEC to boost the role of technology.

Speaking at a recent event in Port Moresby, Xue believes with support from other partners, PNG will deliver a successful APEC meeting.

China, like many development partners, has come heavy to assist the PNG Government prepare for the APEC meeting in November 2018.

“We’ve been doing a lot to help PNG hold a successful APEC Meeting,” he said.

He said as the host of the APEC 2018, the benefits in terms of policy agendas and goals that will be translated into concrete results will be huge.

Toua stated that Papua New Guineans should appreciate and embrace the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which will be hosted for the first time in Papua New Guinea as one of the member economy.

This is in preparation for leaders’ week and lead up meetings.

The First Senior Official Meeting (SOM 1) will commence on the 24^th of February to the 9^th of March.

The rehearsal exercise will mostly focus on the transportation of presidents/ prime ministers and will involve motorcades into Stanley and Gateway Hotel.

The motorcade will depart from Jackson’s Airport into Stanley Hotel where a media conference will be scheduled to convene before the motorcade moves away to Gateway Hotel and concluded.

Oxford Business Group (OBG) Asia managing editor, Patrick Cooke, said this during the OBG roundtable discussion on PNG and diversification opportunities.

During the roundtable held in Port Moresby yesterday, Cooke agreed that the APEC Summit provided a great opportunity for PNG to come under the spotlight.

He said this not only provides opportunities for economic diversification but increased business and trade through networking.

Deputy Police Commissioner and Chief of Operations, Jim Andrews, received the keys of the motorcycles and the garage from the AFP Mission Commander, Assistant Commissioner Bruce Giles, at the opening and handover ceremony in Port Moresby on January 29.

Deputy Commissioner Andrews said: “I thank the people and government of Australia for the continuous support to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to provide security for the APEC meeting this year.