Summit to provide directioin for ACP Group

It is high time the ACP Group reposition itself and endeavour to become an active player at the world stage for the betterment of its people.

These were the words from the Chair of the ACP Summit, PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill when official opening the 8th ACP Summit today. O’Neill further said that this particular point is captured in this year’s theme “Repositioning the ACP Group to respond to the Challenges of Sustainable Development.”

“This then is appropriate and fit into the aspirations of many of our nations where we need to have our economies integrated to increase trade and investment opportunities so we can continue to develop our nations,” O’Neill said.

This will not only lead the way for ACP Group becoming an active global player, but also enable partnership with potential partners that ACP states can benefit from.

Meanwhile, the ACP Group holds one- seventh of the global population and if the Group is to improve the lives of that population, O’Neill said there needs to be a new vision for the future and therefore, it is time the ACP Group rise to the occasion and be seen by its people and the world to be an effective and relevant institution that has the power to make some real difference.

The ACP Group’s initial vision when established many years back, was on International Corporation for the need to strengthen relationship with its colonial powers to establish the new countries as independent economic and political players on the global stage.

However, O’Neill said times have changed and this vision is no longer relevant and needs to be redefined to meet today’s needs and he hopes this will take place during this Summit.

Meantime after the official opening of the Summit, the members of the ACP Group had a photo shot in front of the International Convention Centre and were later treated to lunch hosted by the Speaker of Parliament Theo Zurenouc at Parliament’s State Function Room before proceeding to closed doors discussions in the afternoon. PNGFM/PNG Today