Continue on what has been built: O’Neill

By HELEN TARAWA
THE global community now views Papua New Guinea differently and future governments must continue to build on this, People’s National Congress party leader Peter O’Neill says.
O’Neill, in his New Year message, said the global perspective of PNG had changed over the past eight years.
“This includes belief in the potential of our economy as an international investment destination, and the promotion of our culture and our people,” he said.
“We successfully delivered the 2015 Pacific Games, and other international sporting events including the 2016 Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup and matches of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
“We hosted major regional and global political and economic summits, including the 8th African, Caribbean and Pacific Leaders’ Summit, Pacific Islands Forum and Melanesian Spearhead Group Meetings.”
O’Neill, who lost the prime ministership mid-2019, said the government that he led brought the eyes of the world to PNG for Apec 2018 and the Apec CEO Summit.
“Apec delivered many positive outcomes for our country including the electrification project that will deliver electricity to 70 per cent of our people by 2030,” he said.
“At a bilateral level, we have strengthened relations with our traditional partners Australia, and opened new relationships.”