Photo credit: His Excellency Humaid Ben Salem in discussions with PNG Minister for Information and Communications Technology Hon. Timothy Masiu during the PNG Investment Forum.
Hon Timothy Masiu wants tourists and adventurers visiting Papua New Guinea to be able to experience a mix of modern and traditional PNG lifestyles, so that they can have a cold drink from the fridge, watch the news, and keep in touch with their loved ones even when they are on the most remote islands, hilltops, and valleys.
Minister Masiu was addressing at the third Papua New Guinea Expo2020 Pavilion's investment session, which aimed to promote PNG's eco-tourism and information and communication technology industries to the rest of the globe. The forum is one of the main events put on by the PNG exhibition team in Dubai. The forum took place during the expo's "Travel and Connectivity" theme week.
Minister Masiu said the expo's theme of Connecting Minds and Creating the Future heralded a new age of fresh ideas and innovations aimed at boosting trade and investment, which is one of the PNG government's main priorities.
“Our culture and environmental diversity make our country a most attractive destination for travellers, investors, explorers, scientists and environmental enthusiasts,” he said.
“We do not have sufficient air connectivity to major world destinations, including the UAE and the Gulf States. Also domestically we need roads, wharves and air connectivity as well as internet connectivity. Therefore we need investors and experts that would help us to plan and deliver the connectivity system in a sustainable way. We need partnerships for mutual gains and we need plans that respect and are supportive of conserving our environment so that we can continue to live in balance with nature as part of the global agenda to save our planet from self-destruction.”
The event was attended by a number of significant business and government executives from the UAE and Africa, including His Excellency Humaid Ben Salem, UAE Secretary-General and Chairman of the UAE Chamber of Commerce, who officiated at the event.
In his remark, HE Salem noted that this was his second time attending a PNG event at the expo and that he appreciated PNG maximizing its involvement in the fair by holding such activities. HE Salem also attended PNG's roundtable discussions on education, science, and the green economy in December 2021.
HE Salem stated that technology is driving the world and that artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), fintech, blockchain, and cloud computing, among other things, are controlling all industries worldwide.
He also stated that eco-tourism is a natural gift and that the exhibition might help PNG increase its tourist development.
He added that natural eco-tourism in the UAE includes deserts, sand dunes, mangroves, and beaches. During the exhibition, he suggested PNG might benefit from a handful of their case studies.
Reference: PNG World Expo 2020 (26 January 2022). “Minister Masiu opens third Investment Forum on Connectivity and Eco-Tourism”.
