The Prime Minister is anticipated to ask resource sector companies to engage more with Papua New Guinea’s Small and Medium Businesses to help business owners to grow their capacity.
Hon. Peter O’Neill CMG MP will deliver the keynote address at the Papua New Guinea Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference in Sydney on Monday.
In his presentation the Prime Minister is anticipated to provide information on successes and challenges in the resources sector, and his perspective on the ongoing partnership between the Government and private sector.
“The Papua New Guinea Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference is an important annual event that brings together a broad cross-section of the Australian resources sector, investment community, and other stakeholders,” PM O’Neill said.
“I look forward to further sharing perspectives on how our government, the resources sector, and landowners can work together to achieve a new era of co-operation, stewardship and partnership.”
The Prime Minister will make special representation on behalf of small and medium business owners to be afforded greater involvement in resource production related activities.
“I will be asking our partners in the resources sector to help existing and future SME owners to grow their business.
“Papua New Guineans are very entrepreneurial and many more people would like to start and operate their own business.
“Our government has a twelve-point plan to significantly grow our Small and Medium Enterprises, and we would like to see our resources companies engage more closely with SMEs.
“We want to see SMEs compete for contracts, and for supply and service work across the sector.
“There are many opportunities for small and medium size business in areas that include travel relates services, retailing, village based industries and information technology.
“This is in addition to the more traditional support to resource projects such as agricultural and fisheries products.
“Working together, resource companies can play an even more constructive role in helping the government to grow our small to medium businesses.”
The Prime Minister said he appreciates the efforts already underway by resource sector companies in local communities and in support for charitable and sporting causes that are taking place in resource development areas and beyond.
MEDIA RELEASE.