EMPOWERING people in rural areas through the use of appropriate technology is a step forward in the right direction for Papua New Guinea.
This statement was made by Minister for Commerce and Industry Gabriel Kapris at the launching of the strategic plan for the Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Appropriate Technology Development Programme at the Holiday Inn on Wednesday.
Mr Kapris said appropriate technologies or the use of simple machines and equipment was critically important in Third-World countries and even more so in PNG.
He said this was because it helped simple people to help them process materials from natural resources and enhance their livelihood.
The project is an initiative of the Department of Commerce and Industry and looks at developing and introducing simple machines, equipment and tools to enable resource owners to manufacture or process local materials for their own consumption or for sale.
Mr Kapris said in the past, major resources had been developed with minimal involvement from local resource owners and this new programme would pave the way for people to become more involved in the development process.
He added that resource owners could gain substantial benefits in terms of improved living standards and earning opportunities if they were serious about being self-reliant.
Meanwhile, Minister for National Planning and Rural Development Paul Tiensten said PNG’s economic growth would depend entirely on developing its industrial base.
He added that encouraging indigenous entrepreneurs to engage or operate small or medium enterprises to create a corner stone for PNG’s industrialisation through the use of appropriate technology.