BY PEARSON KOLO

The visit by senior officers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) to Goroka next week will be an historical event for Eastern Highlands Province and the Highlands region.

This was the assurance given by the Eastern Highlands APEC working committee and its stakeholders to the APEC provincial engagement team from Port Moresby that visited Goroka this week.

The chairman of the provincial APEC committee and Governor Peter Numu told the Port Moresby team that the entire Highlands region and parts of Momase would be in Goroka to welcome the visitors.

Mr Numu said during the meeting there will be different cultural singsing groups from the entire region, exhibitions of our cash crops and primary products like, coffee, honey, spices, mushroom, our fertile land, and the way we drive our economy.

Provincial administrator Samson Akunaii who co-chaired the meeting said the APEC visit is historic and a once in a lifetime opportunity for Goroka and the entire highlands region.

“We are well prepared for these visits because this will be an opportunity where the world economies will be in Goroka and the entire Highlands region will be in Goroka to welcome the visitors,” Mr Akunaii said.

Most of the APEC infrastructure developments in Goroka are completed and awareness and town clean-up was picking up momentum.

A big show would be put for the visit at the National Sports Institute in Goroka.