Innovation PNG forum applauded

**NCD Governor Powes Parkop presenting the award for large organisation to SP Brewery’s Nancy Gah during the Innovation PNG 2019 conference.**

**Keynote speaker Pete Williams of Deloitte Centre for the Edge Australia speaking during the Innovation PNG 2019 conference last Friday.**

By CLARISSA MOI
THE inaugural Innovation PNG 2019 conference held in Port Moresby last Friday was hailed a success by the organisers and participants.
Business Advantage International publishing director Andrew Wilkins said from their perspective, Innovation PNG 2019 was a tremendous success.
“Creating a new event from scratch is not easy but we uncovered a lot of excitement about this topic from both business and government,” he said.
“I was particularly delighted we were able to celebrate lots of PNG innovators, both from the private sector, government and universities, and give out the Innovation PNG Awards for the first time.
“We hope the conference has inspired the hundreds who attended to get innovating in their own organisations.”
The messages from the event were that innovation was something everyone could do no matter what one’s role was; and PNG problems require PNG solutions.
Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive officer Stacey O’Nea said the conference provided the platform to engage in conversations towards harnessing the best practices to maximise agribusiness and grow manufacturing and service industries and the role of research and development.
“It also provided the platform to understand e-government policies, reforms and initiatives that provide the enabling environment into the future,” he said.
“The conference also highlighted a growing population of PNG innovators and entrepreneurs using information and communications technology that are positively impacting societies and communities.”
Prime Minister James Marape who opened the event encouraged business houses to harness innovative technology to grow.
“Accessing the Asian market can be made possible with the right infrastructure set up to harness, interface and link with the Asian Market right next door to us,” Marape said.
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop encouraged businesses, government agencies and non-government organisations to keep looking for solutions to deliver their goals.
Innovation PNG awards winner for small businesses was Immaculate Javia of Sustainable Alluvial Mining Services.
The conference is an initiative of the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business Advantage International, and is endorsed by the Government through the Department of Commerce and Industry.