Time to make a difference

By SHIRLEY MAULUDU
THERE has not been any visibility in terms of ensuring that initiatives from previous major expositions that the country took part in were implemented, a state minister says.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Soroi Eoe said PNG’s participation in the upcoming Dubai Expo 2020 needed to draw in positive returns for the country.
“This exposition must be different from past expositions,” he said.
“We are competing with other priorities of Government at this stage.
“So if we are to convince the Government to fund us, we must send in strong arguments that it should be different, and not like what we have been doing all these years.
“This opportunity for us to connect with the world.
“One of the biggest problems is that after coming back from expositions, there has not been any visibility in the last 45 years.
“We need to go back and connect those countries and investor interests that is out there to entice them to come (and invest).
“That is in terms of our policies in the country.
“In terms of the issuance of licenses, or visas, we need to be flexible.
“That can only be done if we have people who follow up, public servants who keep on following up (investors and opportunities).
“In a way, we have not done much in terms of following up other than attending expositions and huge resource investment events.”
Speaking at the launch of the expo website and logo branding yesterday, Minister Eoe also urged for participation from the country’s private sector over the six-month event to be held in the United Arab Emirates starting in October.
“Please invite active participation from the private sector so that they can help with a meaningful contribution (at the Expo).”
Expo 2020 is scheduled to be a World Expo to be hosted by Dubai.
It was originally scheduled for Oct 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021.
However, due to the Covid-19, the new dates are Oct 1 to March 31, 2022.
Despite being postponed, organisers will keep the name Expo 2020 for marketing and branding purposes.
About 20,000 businesses representing 200 countries will take part.