Early tender for Apec services eyed

BUSINESSES in Port Moresby are geared up to cater for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings this year but require timely coordination from the government to prepare, says Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting president Rio Fiocco.
He said there would be demand for a range of services for the meeting and an expected number of tenders and contracts have not been awarded to the companies for this.
“Businesses in Port Moresby are ready to assist the government and the Apec authority to host the meetings,” Fiocco said. “However, there does not appear to be any tenders yet on services that will be needed like telecommunications and internet, security, catering, bilums and gifts et cetera.
“If the contracts are not awarded in a timely fashion, companies will be late in ordering the supplies needed.”
He said the year promised to be challenging for most businesses, with the exception of those contracted to cater for Apec.
“The exceptions to this will be those sectors that will benefit directly from the many meetings to be hosted during PNG’s term as the host country for Apec,” he said.
“Businesses that will do well are the top-end hotels that will host the visitors as well as those hire car, security and catering companies that will be supplying goods and services to the Apec authority.”