Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has arrived in San Francisco, California, 4.45pm local time, for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting from 15 – 17 November 2023.
Prime Minister Marape will join 20 other Leaders of APEC economies in high-level discussions that have been preluded by senior government officials and ministers’ meetings on 11 – 13 November 2023, and should culminate in the adoption of an Outcome Document on Friday, 17 November 2023.
A bilateral meeting with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also scheduled for Prime Minister Marape on Thursday, 16 November 2023.
In addition, the Prime Minister will also be holding private sector meetings with United States Chamber of Commerce, Renew West, Source Global, ExxonMobil and International Development Finance Corporation on Wednesday, 15 November 2023.
The APEC Leaders’ Week sees the 21 Economy Leaders join 1,200 global Chief Executive Officers, 600 media representatives and nearly 30,000 delegates to participate in person, representing governments, businesses, organisations, and agencies from across the 21-member economies of APEC.
APEC economies include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, and Viet Nam.
Participants have been arriving in San Francisco well before the end of last week for the APEC Leaders Week.
Under the theme, ‘Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All’, the 2023 APEC Leaders’ summit is being chaired by American President Hon. Joe Biden, and addresses economic-related issues such as Sustainability, Digitalisation, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Trade Facilitation, Energy Security, and Health.
Prime Minister Marape underscored the importance of PNG’s participation at these series of meetings to engage with leaders of member economies.
He said, “APEC accounts for 48 percent of trade in goods and services and 62 percent of world GDP.
“This is where access to markets and investment opportunities lie for PNG. Our attendance at APEC Leaders’ Meeting is crucial as it allows us to discuss pressing issues facing us, and also to explore bilateral opportunities with economies and potential investors on the margins of the summit.
“APEC is the biggest block that PNG belongs to, and we value the link and opportunities that this forum provides for us. PNG is fortunate to have developed strong bilateral relationships with nearly half of these economies.
“For this APEC meeting, PNG is representing all Small Island economies of the Pacific, where our discussions will centre on Climate Change mitigation issues, increased trade and commerce, and security of the Pacific.
“Consistent with our leadership core focus, we want to attract investments in the area of harvest of our natural resources in our country, and the subsequent downstream processing of these resources.
“In addition, we will also be advocating for members of the World Indigenous Business Forum, who recently concluded their latest meeting in Port Moresby. It is important that as we progress with our various development agendas, we must also make sure that the rights of our indigenous people are also observed, and never suppressed,” said Prime Minister Marape.
APEC is the regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific region.
It has become the premier platform for member economies to advance economic policies in the region to promote free, fair, and open trade and investment and advance sustainable and inclusive economic growth.