PM invites Thais to explore oil

 PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has invited Thailand to join oil and gas exploration and production in the country.

During a meeting with Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Indonesia, O’Neill said Petroleum Minister William Duma would be travelling to Thailand for talks with the Thai energy minister. 

According to the Thai government’s website, O’Neill accepted the invitation to join the ITU Telecom World 2013 to be hosted by the Thai government next month.

He told Shinawatra that Papua New Guinea was opening an embassy in Thailand to elevate the relations between the two countries. 

O’Neill urged Thailand to play a more active role in boosting trade between PNG and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

At present, about 1,700 Thais are working in Papua New Guinea. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand is lending its weight to Papua New Guinea hosting the APEC summit in 2018. Prime Minister John Keys met with O’Neill in Bali.

O’Neill said PNG was well quipped to host the international meeting, which would include heavyweights like the United States, China and Russia.

“Papua New Guinea’s economy has been growing at an average of 8% over the last 12 years,” O’Neill said. 

“Over the next five years we are going to be ready, and it’s good for the Pacific.”