STATE Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and National Events, Justin Tkatchenko, says agriculture is important but it lacks progress in negotiation.
He made the statement at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting on November 15.
Tkatchenko said the world continues to face a food crisis and rising global inflation as food and fuel prices continue to soar.
“These have not only worsened pre-existing challenges from climate change and natural disasters but also have significant disproportionate economic impacts on many small developing countries, including PNG,” he said.
” PNG looks forward to possible outcomes in recognising the important roles that trade plays in advancing food security objectives.”
Tkatchenko stressed the need for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) members to include a commitment to agree on broader parameters to guide negotiations post-Ministerial Conference (MC) 13 in order to reach sustainable outcomes by MC14 that will strengthen the agricultural trading systems.
“As leaders in our respective economies, we bear the responsibility of crafting policies that not only open doors for broader participation, but also safeguard the rights of women to ensure our policies are inclusive and create opportunities that increase participation and protections for our women in the workforce, businesses, leadership and decision-making goals and roles, and education,” he said.
“Increasing the participation of women with untapped economic potential requires an environment that can support the transition from the informal to formal economy and create opportunities, access to global markets and value chains.”
He said Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SME) were an integral part of the service sector, increasing access to capital markets and providing financial and digital literacy to empower people to participate in economic development.
Tkatchenko said the PNG SME sector is dominated by women, and the government has created opportunities for women to access capital through the Women’s Micro Bank and other facilities that also provide financial help for women-owned businesses.
“We recognise the role of indigenous people and indigenous knowledge and practices that are becoming valuable in sectors that require greater participation from rural communities, particularly in agriculture, fisheries, health and in the response to climate change and natural disasters,” he said.
“Despite the challenges, the people continue to thrive in small businesses across the country.
“We seek to elevate these two initiatives to educate and empower rural populations to increase their participation in the formal economy.”
He said APEC can provide opportunities for PNG’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the region with protecting the intellectual properties and indigenous-owned businesses that are promoting their cultures and traditions through their arts and craft.
“Copyright infringements affect many authentic Indigenous businesses, and I think can provide a platform for economies to identify avenues that can support incentives that encourage record trade and sustainability for Indigenous knowledge and storytelling,” Tkatchenko said.
