Tuesday 17 November 2015

PM inspects progress on international conference center


Caption:   PM visiting the construction site.


Caption:   Artist impression of the center once completed.




By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, August 13, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)





PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill paid a courtesy visit to construction site of the International Conference Center that is still under construction in preparation for the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) summit in Port Moresby.

A gift from the People’s Republic of China, the facility was initially planned to be completed by January 2015 by China Jiangxi Corporation for International and Technical Cooperation (CJIC), however due to incident of criminals at the worksite last year, work was postponed for 9 months.

With the security issue now addressed by authorities, Prime Minister O’Niell urged for work to continue unhindered, calling on communities around the site to respect it as it is a gift goven to the country.

“There were issues here, in terms of law and order problems that arose where our communities here were not giving them an easy time,” the PM pointed out.

“It is an iconic project for our country, and it will be used for APEC and before that for many meetings and international conferences.”
“The community needs to support this project- it is a gift and there has been some unnecessary disturbances- I think we are over it.”

Built at an initial cost of US$30 million (K70 million) - Chinese Ambassador to PNG, Li Ruiyou thanked the Prime Minister and various agencies for their support to assure the security of his countrymen working on the multi-million dollar project.
“I would like to thank you Prime Minister for your support for this project- which in itself is a project of friendship, and with your support and that of all relevant departments,” Ambassador Ruiyou said.

“The company is working very hard trying their best to complete the project on time and that is also the request from the Chinese government to see the project completed in time.”

Touted by the PM as an extravagant and lovely building, the project is one of the biggest ever undertaken in any pacific island country by China Aid.

CJIC Country Manager Huang Qiang said that since the resumption of construction, the new date for completion will be in either in August or October 2015, pending design modifications.
“This is our first project in the country- we hope we can contribute more to the country’s development,” Qiang said.

Once completed the International Conference Centre will boast a total seating capacity 1200 people with over 12 different rooms tailored for various congregational meets and the latest in audio visual equipment and amenities also built in.

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