Photo Journal: Interview with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | 27 December 2013
Prime Minister O'Neill sharing his views on the development of Papua New Guinea's economy and regional partnership at the Prime Minister's meeting room in Port Moresby.Parliament House in Port Moresby, the center of government for Papua New Guinea which gained independence in 1975 and joined APEC in 1993.Port Moresby's central business district where development is on the rise. Papua New Guinea is collaborating with other APEC economies to improve its business environment to attract foreign investment, create opportunities for small businesses and young entrepreneurs, and spur job creation.Papua New Guinea, whose top 10 trading partners last year included nine APEC economies led by Australia, Japan, China, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States, projects some 6.2 percent growth in 2014. This is down from 7.5 percent in the last five years but ahead of the IMF's 5.5 percent forecast for 2013.A scene from downtown Port Moresby. Infrastructure, urban construction and security are among the priority areas which Papua New Guinea looks to coordinate more meaningfully on with regional partners, according to Prime Minister O'Neill.Per capita gross domestic product among Papua New Guinea's seven million people, half of which are under 25 and account for over 80 percent of all Pacific islanders, has increased ten years in a row. Working with other APEC economies to ensure that open, integrated markets benefit more people is a top government priority.Papua New Guinea, a significant producer of coffee and cocoa, is looking to build its agricultural capacity through cooperation in APEC. The aim is to increase exports of these and other crops such as tea, tropical fruits and vegetables that support the livelihoods of large numbers of local farmers.Papua New Guinea's fisheries sector is the source of nearly 20 percent of the world's tuna catch alone and an important employer for the local economy. Better management and conservation of ocean resources are vital to ensuring its sustainability and focuses of collaboration within APEC.Out for a weekend dip in Port Moresby. Tourism is an emerging industry in Papua New Guinea which the government is seeking to develop through best practice sharing and increased foreign direct investment flows from other APEC economies.Papua New Guinea is home to a vast array of tribal groups and around 850 different languages. Here its cultural diversity is on display at the Port Moresby Nature Park, a popular sightseeing destination whose expansion is part of the effort to draw more visitors from the APEC region's fast-growing tourist market.Port development in Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea was recently named co-chair of the APEC Investment Experts' Group that will look to advance member economies' new Multi-Year Plan for Infrastructure Development and Investment in 2014 to improve the movement of goods, service and people in the region.Papua New Guinea is intent on deepening trade and investment relations with large APEC economies and further bridging the region with the South Pacific. Here Prime Minister O'Neill meets with Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the 2013 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bali.
