The resources and energy industry sustains the PNG economy, providing economic opportunities and social benefits to millions of Papua New Guinean stakeholders, in addition to contributing over 80% of PNG’s exports and over 25% of PNG’s GDP. It is appropriate that there be an annual event to bring all stakeholders together to celebrate the gains, share the learnings and discuss how to maximize the benefits of the development for all stakeholders. Accordingly, the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Resources & Energy (PNG CORE) is staging the inaugural PNG Resources Week in the first week of July in 2024.
PNG Resources Week will bring all stakeholders together in PNG in a series of events from 1 to 4 July 2024;
- the second PNG National Community Affairs and National Content Conference & Expo (CANCONEX) to be held over 3 days 1 - 3 July,
- a PNG Resources Career Fair 3 - 4 July,
- the inaugural PNG Resources Summit 4 July, and
- the Resources Summit Dinner 4 July The University of PNG will be the venue for CANCONEX and the PNG Resources Summit from 1 to 4 July 2024.
The PNG Resources Summit Dinner will be held at the Hilton Hotel on the evening of 4 July 2024.
In making the announcement, PNG CORE President Mr. Anthony Smaré stated;
“We know that the resources sector is the engine that drives the PNG economy, and it impacts the lives of millions of our people. To build on our conferences and events, it is critical that we run an annual domestic event that showcases the common good that is being achieved by the industry in PNG; that gathers the entire community of stakeholders (developers, regulators, landowners, contractors and impacted communities) to honestly share learnings and opportunities for the sustainable development of the PNG energy and resources sector to the benefit of all stakeholders.
“This is why we are excited to stage the first PNG Resources Week, feature 3 landmark events – CANCONEX 2024, Resources Career Fair, and the PNG Resources Summit and Dinner. We are also proud to stage it not at hotel, but at a seat of learning, University of Papua New Guinea, to bring the industry closer to the next generation that will power the next 20 years of development.”
Description of each event:
About CANCONEX 2024
CANCONEX is the National Community Affairs & National Content Conference & Expo. CANCONEX 2024 follows on from its inception with CANCONEX 2023 last year at PNG University of Technology in Lae, where over 800 delegates attended comprising executives from developers, explorers, business, government, suppliers and contractors, and a large representation from project area landowners and landowner companies from all of PNG’s energy and resource projects. Apart from discussion on community affairs, local content, business development, social programs and gender development, CANCONEX 2023 also featured Bougainvillean leaders on the lessons of Panguna’s closure.
This year’s event is poised to draw over two thousand attendees, including key figures in business and representatives from landowning communities across major project areas with concurrent streams of presentations on all issues and shared experiences associated with resource development in PNG. There will also be an expo with resource companies, landowner companies and other service companies to the energy and resources sector exhibiting.
About PNG Resources Summit
For the first time, the PNG Resources Summit will be held, as a PNG-based resources update on the resources sector, featuring presentations by senior executives providing an update on all the major resource and energy projects in PNG. The Summit will close with a gala dinner in the evening at the Hilton Hotel.
