Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has today announced the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso at this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting to represent Papua New Guinea.
The 2024 APEC Leaders’ Meeting is being held in Lima, Peru beginning today Sunday 10 November 2024 to Saturday 16 November 2024, with preliminary meetings at the start of the week and the leaders meeting toward the end of the week.
Prime Minister Marape added, “I will not be attending this year’s APEC meeting but have allocated this task to Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso to attend on my behalf to represent our country.
“I have been alternating some of these international engagements with the DPM. This is to allow him to gain exposure and create global contacts which are essential for continuity, nurturing and leadership.
“It is important that Papua New Guinea continues to have its presence in the APEC family of nations through attendance at these important meetings where PNG also speaks up for the emerging economies of the Pacific.
“Papua New Guinea and fellow small island countries of the Pacific are emerging economies trying to find our way in global trade and commerce.
“It is our hope that these APEC meetings open the way for fairer trade and innovation across the globe, reaching and involving those of us emerging economies.
“DPM Rosso will convey the same message I have taken to APEC, which is emphasis on fair trade and commerce, and Papua New Guinea’s strategic position linking Asia to the Pacific and across to the Americas.
“PNG has a vibrant democracy; we host the world’s third biggest rainforest,
host seven percent of its biodiversity; and together with the rest of the Pacific nations, contribute 20 percent of the world’s tuna stocks. PNG is the bridge linking to the thriving markets of Asia. In our economic journey, we are focused on migrating to downstream processing, and DPM Rosso will be taking these messages to APEC 2024 to also invite investors who a keen on partnering with us in development,” said PM Marape.
Despite being in the middle his family bereavement, Prime Minister Marape resumes duty today, Sunday 10 November 2024.