This was the contention by Huon Gulf MP and Agriculture and Livestock Minister Sasa Zibe last Friday at the launching and fundraising dinner for the event that was being organised by Village Development Trust (VDT).
 It will be held on March 20-25 in Lae.
Mr Zibe told over 200 guests at the Lae International Hotel that if past and present governments managed the country’s wealth from natural resources well, PNG could be one of the richest and most powerful nations.
He also said that the country’s diverse cultures have not been given the necessary support in terms of marketing overseas, arguing that the cultural diversity the country had could be utilised to earn incomes.
“We can match the powerful countries with our natural resources, our cultures and of course our biodiversity,” Mr Zibe said.
He said “too much negative reports in the media” had cost the country millions of kina in potential investors, especially in tourism.
“It is the tiny fraction of the population that creates social disharmony but the media gives a bad name to the rest of the people and the country,” he said.
He said it was about time the media re-focused on marketing the country’s diverse cultures abroad rather than concentrating on the negatives.
“The International Music Festival must be government priority; it must be the priority of the corporate citizens, the village people and it must be the priority of all of us” he said.
“The festival will motivate people to be aware of their dignity and of their identity.”
He invited the local and international media to cover the event.
“We need a positive image for our pride and investment sectors, a positive image of our government and a positive image and pride of our bio-diversity and cultural diversity.”

While appealing to the government and other organisations including business houses to support in staging the six-day event from March 20, he reiterated that it was only through such a festival that the country showcased its cultures to the world.

According to the director Maine Winny, VDT had embarking on raising about K1 million to stage the event, which would feature Papua New Guinea’s contemporary artists and performers as well as several international groups