Over 150 Indigenous Business from 14 different nations around the world was given a grand welcome to the 14th World Indigenous Business Forum in Port Moresby on Tuesday evening.
Over 500 delegates including PNG and visiting countries were given a sky diver grand entrance followed by the theme of the night “Rhythms and dance of 1000 tribes” showcasing PNG’s vast cultural heritage with songs and dance performances from the 22 provinces.
National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop said NCD and Amazing Port Moresby as the host city was honoured to host the forum.
Mr Parkop spoke highly of Port Moresby as a gateway of the land of the Thousand Tribes embedded by the cultural heritage through friendship as core of these relationship.
“We are happy that we are having this interaction with you all our Indigenous business people of the world.
“We have managed this contradction between your culture and your tradition and the ability to strive in the global cash capital economy.
“The capital city is honoured to host you all. More importantly, we are keen to look forward to the dialogue that we and you all will be having in the next two days.
“To hear from you on how you all have managed to overcome the great challenges.
“It is a lesson that I believe we PNG would like to learn and know,” he said.
Mr Parkop said the transition for us is still a big challenge as our people are still in the margins of our economy still trying to break through the introduced economy.
“To alll SMEs and MSMEs, all business leaders that are going to participate in this two days forum.
“I emphasise that the time has come for all of us to seize the opportunity and to make the transition from our culture, from our tradition, from our ethnic to be successful with our brothers and sisters showingthe platform that the Indigenous people of the world can have a place and voice and be part and parcel of the global economy.
“During the discussions, I am confident that we will build bridges, friendship and partnership to drive our porple , our region and our friends from the Indigenous communites around the world,” he said.
The three days business forum which started Tuesday, October 24 will end today.