Meeting to discuss infrastructure

 By GYNNIE KERO

MORE than 300 business people, political leaders, policy makers and analysts will meet in Port Moresby next week to focus on how to improve the country’s infrastructure need.

Business Council of PNG president Ernie Gangloff told Business Advantage PNG: “We’ve had enough of the talk, it’s time for action. We’ve invited speakers who have had experience in getting things off the ground and actually implementing projects.

“This ties in with the government’s motive for this year – the year of implementation.” 

He said the business council realised that infrastructure was a key impediment to economic growth.

“The government has realised that and have decided that this year they actually want to make things happen,” Gangloff said.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is expected to open the conference. Australia’s new Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Senator Matt Thistlethwaite, will address the meeting in place of Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr.

President of the Australia-PNG Business Council Peter Taylor said: “We think it’s important for the future development of PNG that not only the immediate infrastructure needs are looked at and addressed but also for the future, because we can see enormous growth opportunities in PNG.

“Roads for example, internally getting products to market and taking equipment to resource sites is handicapped by the lack of a decent road network. Even where there are roads, the maintenance on those roads is often lacking so that’s an enormous additional cost to the economy generally.”

Taylor added that he expected debate over ports, airports, reliable flights, consistent electricity and clean, reliable water supplies.

The conference will be held at the Gateway Hotel on April 14-16.