A former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta says it is vital the country uses the income from resource projects to underpin sustainable development.
When Sir Mekere was leader at the turn of the century, PNG was on the brink of financial failure but now he says it has become a wealthy country.
He says already the growth in the mining, petroleum and gas sectors is having astounding impacts on incomes and government revenue.
But Sir Mekere says the lesson from his era in charge is the need not to squander the resources.
"Because we can come down from being a very wealthy country to a country that is on the brink of disaster. And it is very possible, so the lesson is to use what we are receiving now creating social and economic infrastructure to underpin more sustainable development."
