PNG's creative industry highly innovative, revealed during APEC meet in Port Moresby

Australian High Commission Counsellor Economics, Dr. Chakriya Bowman, describe creative industries in Papua New Guinea as highly innovative.

Australian High Commission Counsellor Economics, Doctor Chakriya Bowman, describe creative industries in Papua New Guinea as highly innovative.

Dr Bowman made the remark during the launching of Real Impact’s digital market platform for Papua New Guinean SMEs under the creative industry to be able in selling their products to local and international buyers.

“One of the things I love about this project is the innovation in the creative industries with the women and men at the grassroots who are doing their traditional crafts but in a really exciting and innovative way to showcase their spectacular knowledge and tradition of Papua New Guinea to the world.”

She said the creative industry was new and needed support from the right partners, adding that the partnership between Real Impact and Papua New Guinea’s creative industry would provide ease in marketing their products and allow entrepreneurs to experience a boost in growth.

“It’s a really new industry, it’s something that hasn’t the right partners with and are essential too, and so it’s been really exciting to partner with Real Impact. This is just a really lovely compliment to build the momentum and to take the crafts of Papua New Guinea to the international market.”

Since the establishment of the partnership between Real Impact and the creative industry twelve months ago, numerous arts and crafts of Papua New Guinea have been sold to high-end vendors overseas.

Ms Bowman said this was the first time handcrafts were turned into highly valued home items.

“We’ve been working on this for probably about twelve months now. Real Impact is the right partners for us, and they’ve been able to take these beautiful products and lead them to some high-end retailers in the United States and Australia. This is the first-time that we’ve really taken these handcrafts and turned them into high-valued products which are now internationally demanded in designer homewares,” she said.

The partnership between Real Impact and the country’s creative industry is expected to continue on with collaborations between Australian international designers and highly skilled artisans in Papua New Guinea.

Press Release - APEC

PNG Govt wants all APEC assets to be returned to the State after use for APEC 2018 in Port Moresby

ALL Apec assets in the custody of individuals and parties must be returned to the Finance Department, says Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan.

The assets include laptops, phones, cars, vehicles, plants and equipment and devices such as hardware and software used during the Apec summits in Port Moresby last month.
In a newspaper advertisement yesterday, the acting chairman of the Central Supply and Tenders Board said it was illegal to be in possession of those items.

“The assets acquired by the State and donated by the international partners, NGOs and corporate entities for the purpose of the event belong to the State. The Apec event has ended and they have to be returned,” Ngangan said.
The notice was issued to the general public and short-term employees, contractors, service providers, individuals, joint security taskforce and citizens engaged by the State and the Apec authority.

He said the Apce authority was taking stock of the assets before they were disposed of.
“This was in accordance with the Public Finance Management (amendment) Act 2016. The State would apply the full force of the law to those who do not release the assets,” he said.
He also asked donor partners to submit a full list of what they gave to the event.
Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko said a full report on all assets purchased, acquired and donated to the Apec Coordination Authority would be made known to the public by the end of this month.

Tkatchenko was speaking in response to questions by The National regarding the progress made to recoup all assets owned by the authority and the process of disposing them through public tender.
The future of those employed by the authority will also have to be decided.

Source: The National newspaper

APEC discussions enable Papua New Guineans to take part in Global Issues

The APEC discussion series was a highlight, enabling Papua New Guineans to take part in APEC by interacting with government, business leaders and international and local experts bringing important discussions from the APEC meeting rooms to the public.

The importance of the initiative has been recognized by other APEC nations and will now be replicated by next year’s APEC host, Chile.

The discussion series events structure included two parts; a keynote address by an international expert or a PNG leader followed by an expert panel discussion with audience participation.

Australian High Commissioner to PNG Bruce Davis said this was the first time APEC had brought important discussions from closed meeting rooms out into the wider public.
“By bringing together leading Papua New Guinean and international experts, the discussion series ensured strong attendance, with enthusiastic audience participation leading to lively discussions,” he said.

The discussion series covered a diverse range of topics including trade, agriculture, health, mining, women in leadership, small and medium enterprise, financial integration and digital economy.

More than 3,500 people attended, listened and engaged with 40 local and international experts at the University of Papua New Guinea’s new lecture theater in Port Moresby and at the University of Technology in Lae. The events were also recorded and broadcast on NBC television and radio, reaching four million Papua New Guineans.

Teachers also commended the Australian government for their support, resources, time and effort to strengthen the PNG education system and other priority areas.
The new lecture theater at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) was constructed with assistance from the Australian Government. UPNG is a core partner of the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct and is the historic home for discussions on topics of national importance.

The university is also the home of the new school of business and public policy, which was opened by the prime ministers of Australia and PNG during APEC Leaders’ Week.
The Discussion Series will continue throughout 2019 and will provide the public with access to experts, leaders, new ideas and a place for discussion on issues of national importance.
Government leaders from PNG who attended the discussion series events included Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Charles Abel, Health Minister Sir Puka Temu, Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato and Secretary for Education Dr Uke Kombra.

Australian government speakers included Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Mark Coulton, Assistant Minister for Treasury and Finance Zed Seselja, APEC Ambassador Simon Newnham and Ambassador for Women and Girls Dr Sharman Stone.
A number of significant international experts also presented in 2018, including 

representatives from the World Health Organisation, the APEC Secretariat, the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank and Grow Asia.

 Source: Post Courier newspaper