Papua New Guinea New Voices Conference: summary report

The summary report of the PNG New Voices conference highlights the enthusiasm of Papua New Guinea\u27s young people to participate in debate about PNG\u27s economy and international outlook in the Asian century. Conference participants called for higher-quality leadership and the creation of opportunities for Papua New Guineans to prosper through investment in human resources, agriculture and the entrepreneurial skills of young people. The Lowy Institute for International Policy convened its annual New Voices conference in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 22 October 2012. It was the first time this conference has been convened outside Australia. The conference assembled approximately 120 emerging leaders from the private sector, government and civil society. Speakers addressed issues such as the direction of the national economy, the impact of the Asian Century on Papua New Guinea’s international choices, and the growing popularity and influence of social media. Participants were overwhelmingly positive about the future of their country and enthusiastic about international engagement, particularly with the fast-growing economies of Asia. The following provides a summary of the discussion around the key themes of the conference. The report is written on a non-attributable basis