The long and short of Apec benefits

Hosting Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings promotes Papua New Guinea and what it can offer to the world, says the director of the National Research Institute Dr Osborne Sanida.
Sanida, who is also chairperson of the Apec Study Centre, said that hosting Apec has short-term benefits such as delegates coming into the country and spending money.
He said the key benefit areas are regional economic integration and trade and investment.
“It provides the demand for businesses, but going forward it’s how we take up the opportunities to strike up the balance or connections with the different Apec economies, especially in terms of trade and investment.”
“Businessmen come to PNG and if they see the opportunity to invest in the country, that will benefit the nation,” he said.
“There are immediate benefits and long-term benefits, depending on how we take the opportunities given.”
Sanida said the main role of the Apec Study Centre is to provide research input into analysis and policy to promote the Apec goals of promoting prosperity in the region.
An agreement has been signed between Apec Authority PNG National Research Institute to host the study centre.
“Our key immediate goal was to host this centre in collaboration with the PNG Apec Authority. Within the last one year and two months, as a young study centre we have managed to organise and host this conference.
“Going forward we hope that the outcomes of this conference will contribute to PNG’s policy agenda for this year.