Papua New Guinea 40 Years On: Where to Now?

The panel discusses the past successes, and challenges ahead for Papua New Guinea. Panelists include Cecilia Nembou, Associate Professor of Management and Vice President, Divine Word University, Port Moresby; Benedict Imbun, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University; Deane Woruba, PhD Student, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University and; Franz Drees-Gross, World Bank Country Director for Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
In September 2015, Papua New Guinea celebrates 40 years of independence, providing an opportunity to reflect on how far the nation has come, and the challenges that lay ahead.
As the Pacific’s largest country by population, land and economic activity, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill believes PNG is “entering a period of change never experienced before”. The challenges ahead lie in ensuring all people benefit from PNG’s continued development, through improved education and employment opportunities, reliable infrastructure and high quality services.
PNG is also securing its role in the region as not just an economic leader, but as a driver of the broader regional policy agenda, engaging in numerous bilateral agreements with neighbors and hosting the APEC Forum in 2018. The nation has also recently hosted the Pacific Islands Games and the Pacific Islands Forum, the latter of which Prime Minister O’Neill has become Chair.
Throughout the discussion, the panelists consider many issues, including the viability of the Government’s 2050 vision plan; the importance of education to PNG’s development and; the place of agriculture in the nation’s evolving economy.
Recorded: Friday, September 25, 2015
Moderator: Auskar Surbakti

[@tomdiwai6036]

Excellent quality and content, saw Mona Sur in the audience, well done all of you

[@leonardsidojahak2820]

PNG in a short space of time has achieved a lot despite the challenges we have. The country itself being very diverse is a major challenge itself which it has been able to unite and move forward. People own 80% of the land and work it most of the time without government support and intervention. Thank you Cecilia and Dean for being positive and demonstrating that positive outlook on our country. With the challenges and negativity, we will move forward and improve as a nation.

[@racheltord6009]

The Australian Aid money 💵 has kept PNG in poverty for many years.. PNG doesn't need the Aid money If Australia wants to help the PNG people.. they need to show PNG people how to do things.. Farming.. building bridges.. building houses.. schools.. hospitals... educate the public .. the people of PNG so they can do everything for themselves.. create factories.. 👌

[@joelokuwape2089]

We need education rather than others

[@cathytukne1492]

Ben is a pragmatic most real old dog. I love being very supportive of my country but the way things have added up for the past 40 years makes it difficult unless we are willing to work hard, be pragmatic, and make goals achievable with indicators, monitoring, and evaluation.

[@johnhamau2537]

The government needs to invest more in technical and higher education to address the current bottle neck situation in the education sector. Dr Hamau University of Goroka

[@richimbun57]

That's my dad ben

[@franciswargirai3593]

Your dad didn`t answer the question on aid.

[@damianbidoof4325]

Benedict Imbun

[@malasakii9571]

Ben has never spoke positive on PNG..I like how Dean and Cicilia talked about PNG's progress and future progress . regardless of your country's downfall always talk and be a positive ambassador

[@finnmatteo8763]

You all probably dont care but does any of you know a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I somehow lost my login password. I would love any help you can give me.

[@adanjayce8971]

@Finn Matteo Instablaster :)

[@finnmatteo8763]

@Adan Jayce Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm in the hacking process now. Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@finnmatteo8763]

@Adan Jayce It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thank you so much, you saved my ass!

[@adanjayce8971]

@Finn Matteo you are welcome xD