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The Conference was organized by IBMC International, a Dubai based investment and match-making company. More than 50 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and experts in finance, Government policy, gold bullion trade and innovation, including block chain, shared ideas and views and new technological inventions at the Roundtable. The event is the world’s largest gold convention. The highlight of this event was the awarding of the Global Gold Excellence Award to Papua New Guinea through Ambassador Joshua Kalinoe.

The conflict is in the Indonesian-administered Bintang Mountains regency, where state forces are pursuing West Papua Liberation Army fighters who they blame for recent attacks on health workers.

Hundreds of people have fled across to Tumolbil in Yapsie sub-district of West Sepik, situated right on the border.

With this situation at hand, the PNG Defense Force will despatch a small unit of soldiers to the remote border area.

PNG's Defence Force Commander, Gilbert Toropo, said that 11 soldiers would go to assess the situation in Tumolbil.

This was part of a larger effort to reinforce the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

While here, Del Toro met with representatives of the government of Papua New Guinea to include the Prime Minister to discuss ways both countries can establish a free and open Indo-Pacific region together. 

In Papua New Guinea, Del Toro made a special visit to the Naval Construction Battalion, better known as the Seabees, who are constructing new facilities in support of the revitalisation of the PNGDF maritime base at Lombrum.

In a meeting the Minister for Forest, Walter Schnaubelt met with the UAE Minister for State for International Cooperation and Director General of World Expo2020, Reem Ephraim Al Hashimy in Dubai on 11 October.

The two Ministers met at the end of the thematic week on climate and biodiversity and before the departure of Minister Schnaubelt.

He had a successful week of connecting with stakeholders on investment opportunities in PNG and outlining the country’s desire to live in balance with its rainforest and investing in conservation and renewable energy options.

President of the PNG Europe Business Council Inc., Michael Sullivan, in a statement said, the lower-than-expected recovery for 2021 is mainly due to an anticipated decline in the mineral sector and the uncertainties associated with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the growth in the mineral sector, which includes oil and gas has also been revised downwards because of the closure of the Porgera gold mine while the non-mineral sector is expected to do better.

Prime Minister Marape responded by stating the importance of the consultations adding that it was as challenging as the issues affecting the country’s economy and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There can be no greater issue facing our government, our country when one part of our county decides or has decided to break away and be an independent nation,” he said.

PM Marape said he will be releasing a statement next week about the discussions during the consultations so that Parliament is guided and citizens are aware outcome of the dialogue.

Since achieving independence in 1975, PNG has struggled to translate its natural resource wealth into sustainable social and economic development for its citizens.

Despite being one of only 17 megadiverse countries, the USAID PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) aims to protect Papua New Guinea’s rich biodiversity, which is under increasing threat from industrial development, population growth, and other anthropogenic factors.

The Prime Minister was the first person to be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Prime Minister James Marape said results have shown that the AstraZeneca vaccine has 63 percent effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19.

He explained that the doses of the vaccine are to be given in two parts. The second dose will be given eight to 12 weeks after the first dose.

The Foreign Ministry said Tuesday the grant aid will be used to secure cold-storage facilities, transport vehicles and other equipment necessary for the stable delivery of vaccines in those countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, according to the ministry.

Japan aims to help ensure the delivery of vaccines "to each and every person in the all corners of developing countries" with the hope of containing the coronavirus pandemic as quickly as possible, it said, adding the aid will be delivered through the United Nations Children's Fund.

“I am a nurse here at the Sesago Discount Pharmacy. I usually do consultation and attend to those who are sick. It’s basically like outpatient like a walk-in, walk-out out patients’ cases. I also assist with the pharmacy when the clients come in and need assistance with the over the counter treatments like common cold and flu, skin infections or if there’s anything that’s over the counter and they need assistance I also assist with that and guide them so they can get what they really need.”