Security, housing set for APEC summit in Papua New Guinea

Nov. 12 (UPI) — Foreign troops have been sent to Papua New Guinea to ramp up security ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, which began Monday and lasts the entire week.

Many world leaders, including U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, will attend the summit this week.

Several nations are sending forces to guard the leaders and maintain security in Papua New Guinea, one of the poorest countries in the world. New Zealand is sending a naval ship and 30 special operation soldiers, and Australia added 1,500 defense personnel, two patrol boats and jets from its air force.

Papua New Guinea ranks 130th in worldwide gross domestic product and its capital of Port Moresby is regarded one of the most dangerous cities in the world, The Guardian reported.

Pence will stay in Cairns, Australia, during the conference — and three cruise ships will dock at Port Moresby for the summit because of the city’s lack of hotel rooms.

“Papua New Guinea is an important place for APEC to address the next steps for the digital economy because the challenges of embracing technology are real,” Ivan Pomaleu, chairman of the APEC senior officials, said in a statement.

“We have to work out accessibility issues, how to improve affordability and how to make digital innovation within our economies more efficient and sustainable over the long haul.”

Some locals, though, have been angered by the spending done for the summit — including the purchase of 43 luxury vehicles for the event.

“There are a lot of people, not just in Port Moresby but around PNG who are outraged by the spending on APEC which seems to be extravagant,” said writer and activist Martyn Namorong in the Guardian report. “Many people feel it’s not been clearly articulated to them what the benefits of APEC will be.”

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