Business forum draws record crowd

THE Australia-Papua New Guinea business forum (APNGF) – the annual meeting of Australian and PNG business leaders – has attracted a record crowd.
Almost 400 delegates have gathered in the northern Australian city of Townsville to hear the latest from Australian and PNG government ministers, as well as from business leaders and aid experts.
The president of the Australia-PNG business council, Ian Clarke, told Radio Australia yesterday this year’s forum was  taking place at a crucial moment in business relations between the two countries.
“We are at a stage now where PNG is embarking upon enormous change, driven by the LNG and resources sectors and until at least last year when we were talking those were not a reality.
“That project is now a reality … it’s having a profound impact on Australia at a time when Australia-PNG bilaterally are actually agreeing to talk to restructure the development assistance treaty as well, so it comes at a very interesting time,” he said.
Asked what PNG Foreign Minister Sam Abal said at the opening of the forum yesterday morning, Clarke said the minister had been a great supporter and had been to a number of the forums already.