9 Nov 2020

Bougainville ready to welcome responsible foreign investment

5:26 am on 9 November 2020

Bougainville's president wants investment in agriculture, fisheries, forestry to create quality jobs, increase revenue and broaden the tax base.

Ishmael Toroama speaking at PNG think-tank, The National Research Institute.

Ishmael Toroama speaking at PNG think-tank, The National Research Institute. Photo: The National Research Institute

This comes as Ishmael Toroama lays the ground work for negotiations with Papua New Guinea over the resounding results of last year's independence referendum.

He said his autonomous government was already developing plans for large to medium scale projects as well as looking at supporting smaller businesses.

The president said that "together we will move Bougainville forward; socially, economically and politically as we prepare for Bougainville's ultimate political destiny; independence."

Mr Toroama said the ABG welcomed foreign investment, but said it had to be done responsibly.

The president was commenting after signing a memorandum of understanding for the Tonolei Timber Development Project, which has forest sites in both Buin and Kieta, in south and central Bougainville.

The Tonolei development is the second project initiated by Mr Toroama's government, the first being the Manetai Limestone project and the third will be the Bana Special Economic Zone.