Summit to put PNG on world map: Lupari

National

Papua New Guinea will be known to the world come November when Apec leaders arrive for the summit, Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari says.
He addressed hundreds of Apec staff and officials at the International Convention Centre last week.
“That will be the proudest moment for the nation,” Lupari said.
“The rest of the world doesn’t know PNG.
“Many of you, when you travel the world, they think that we come from Africa.
“Just imagine: From Nov 15-19 event, the world will know Papua New Guinea. That will be the proudest moment for all of us.
“We have not crossed that finishing line yet.
“We have a meter or two to go and we must work together to achieve that. I know that our good Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill is right behind us to deliver a secure and Pacific-style Apec Leaders’ Summit come November.
“I am confident because our development partners like China, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and many countries have come on board to help us host Apec.
“They have the confidence in us and our leadership to deliver Apec 2018 successfully.”
Lupari said the challenge with the provision of the security would never be easy “but Government is confident of a secure leaders’ summit this year”.
“Many of us were having doubts about what it will be like having the president of the United States of America, or to see the president of China, the president of Russia in our country, but that will be the momentous day for this country.
“Just imagine when the three leaders of the most-successful and powerful countries in the world come to PNG: The whole world will be focused on us.
“It would be good to sit down and tell our grand-children that, the president of the United States came to our country. And that will be an inspiration to all of us.
“Let us all be proud that we were able and have delivered SOM 1 and SOM 2.
“I know SOM3 is going to be an icing on the cake.”
Lupari acknowledged O’Neill and his Government for the budget support to the PNG Apec Authority.