PNG Minister Discusses Key Transport Intervention issues at APEC meeting
Papua New Guinea's TRANSPORT and Civil Aviation Minister Walter Schnaubelt has congratulated the government of United States of America for successfully hosting the 11th APEC 2023 Transport Ministerial Meeting (TMM11) in Detroit.
“May I on behalf of the people and the Government of Papua New Guinea, take this opportunity to congratulate and commend the people and the government of the United States of America for hosting the APEC 2023,” he said.
Schnaubelt who attended the recently concluded 11th APEC Transport Ministerial Meeting (TMM) on May 15 -17, 2023 in Detroit participated in high level discussions including Supply Chain and Connectivity, Transportation’s Role in Climate Change and Inclusivity and Gender.
He said PNG continues to support the work of the APEC process and its participation in TMM11 signifies our commitment as it is a beneficiary of a “free and open trade and investment” for the Region based on the Three Pillars of APEC’s Activities – Trade and Investment Facilitation, Business Facilitation and Economic and Technical Cooperation.
“PNG hosted the APEC Meetings from 2016 which included the TMM10 in 2017 and the APEC Leaders’ Summit in 2018.
“At the TMM10 in Port Moresby, Ministers were presented with a Review of the TPTWG’s Structure as instructed by the Ministers at TMM9 in 2015.
“One key outcome of the TMM10 in line with the direction of the TMM9 was a deliberation on the frequency of the Transportation Ministerial Meetings. TMM10 recommended that the TMM be convened every three years as opposed to the present two years.
“The APEC Senior Officials’ Meetings and the Ministerial Meetings are all in preparation for the APEC Leaders’ Summits that occur at the end of each APEC Year with each successive year building on the progress made in each succeeding year with specific focus on certain aspects to drive the overall APEC Agenda of advancing the welfare of the citizens of the 21 Economies and the World at large through Open and Free Trade.
“Last Year 2022, the Economic Leaders of APEC met in – person for the first time in Four years in Bangkok, Thailand due mainly to the adverse effects of COVID 19 and related responses by APEC economies to contain the pandemic by restricting travel and other activities. The pandemic showed what can happen when the unimaginable breaks apart global supply chains and disrupts life as we know it,” Schnaubelt explained.
The Theme of the 2023 US APEC is Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All which follows on from Last Year’s Thailand’s APEC Theme of Open Connect and Balance which was summarized in the Leaders’ opening Statement as being Open to all opportunities, Connected to all dimensions and Balanced in all aspects.
He told the APEC gathering some of the interventions the PNG government is currently undertaking in so far as supply chain and connectivity in the transport sector is concern are well underway.
“Connect PNG initiative of the current government to improve initially on domestic multi modal transport supply chain connectivity, then to sub regional & APEC regional connectivity is on par.
“We have domestic strategic road network being improved and extended, 22 Strategic national airports being redeveloped and the main 16 ports being redeveloped under the Connect PNG initiative for the next 20 years.
“Also bilateral air services agreement with APEC economies are being pursued for seamless travel post COVID, with full compliance to transport safety and security,” Schnaubelt explained.
He further said: “related function of my Ministry in promoting inclusiveness of Women In Transport (WiT) initiated by the US Government in the 2011 APEC TMM11 which augers well with the Pacific Women in Maritime and PNG Women in Maritime.”
Picture caption: Transport & Civil Aviation Minister Hon. Walter D Schnaubelt, Chairman of 11th APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting (TMM11 2023) Mr. Pete Buttigieg US Secretary for Transport and Secretary for Transport PNG Mr. Roy Mumu at the APEC TMM11 held in Detroit, USA.
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