BrazilPwC selected as knowledge partner for APEC CEO summit in PNG
Big Four firm PwC has been named as the official Knowledge Partner of the 2018 APEC CEO summit to be held in the Papua New Guinean capital Port Moresby later this year.
For the ninth year running, PwC will take on the exclusive role of Knowledge Partner for the APEC CEO Summit; the foremost gathering of influential business leaders and government in the Asia Pacific region, this year to be held in Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby on the 15th -17th of November. Up to 700 delegates will be in attendance from 21 member-states stretching from Chile to Russia with a number of Asian economies in between.
Instituted in 1996, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO summit immediately precedes the main event between the APEC heads-of-state, and provides an opportunity for senior business executives, thought leaders and policy-makers to discuss interregional issues such as economic growth, environmental protection, and trade. Speakers at the invitation-only event last year in Da Nang, Vietnam included Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside the Philippine’s Rodrigo Duterte and US President Donald Trump.
As the event’s exclusive Knowledge Partner, PwC will support the host committee by providing research insights to participants in an effort to stimulate informed dialogue between public and private stakeholders, as well as by making subject matter experts available for APEC meetings. In addition, the Big Four firm will officially release its annual APEC CEO survey to coincide with the event, which canvasses perspective of regional business leaders and their outlook for the year ahead – with this year’s focus on the theme of ‘Inclusion in the age of disruption.’
“PwC is excited to be part of the APEC CEO Summit 2018 as the Knowledge Partner. Our role provides a great platform not only for our firm, but also for our clients and the wider PNG business community to shape the APEC conversations,” said PwC’s PNG territory senior partner Jonathan Seeto, adding that the Papuan perspective brought to the dialogue would hopefully stimulate more locally relevant conversations.
2018 Summit chairman Isikeli Taureka, who has held executive director and general manager country roles with Exxon-owned InterOil and Chevron, responded in turn; “The Summit plays an important role in amplifying key issues that could open up opportunities for PNG and unlock our potential. With PwC’s profound expertise and global connectivity, we look forward to creating a meaningful Summit for business leaders in PNG and across the region.”
The local Port Moresby and Lae offices of PwC’s PNG practice host over 100 members of staff, and the consulting firm claims to be the largest and first professional services outfit to establish a presence in the country, with activities on-the-ground dating back over 55 years. PwC's Big Four rivals EY, KPMG and Deloitte likewise have a presence in Papua New Guinea, with the KPMG office purportedly established in 1966 and Deloitte citing a local head-count of approximately 150 locally-based professionals.
