Border centres to be built in South Bougainville

National

PNG Customs will build two new border processing centres in South Bougainville.
“Development that is expected to happen in the electorate because we have an international sea border,” South Bougainville MP Timothy Masiu said.
The location of the two centres, one in Kangu, Buin, and another in Koromira, Central Bougainville, were marked out earlier this week with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Masiu said the establishment of the centres were an important milestone in the development of South Bougainville.
“I am very happy because this border has been an issue that I have constantly raised in Parliament,” he said.
He said there was no doubt that Buin and South Bougainville would one day become the major economic hub and business centre for the Bougainville region because of the international border and its strategic location to international trade routes.
Customs Chief Commissioner Ray Paul said the border processing Centre development is a major step forward in establishing proper border surveillance and monitoring that has been lacking since the border was drawn up 200 years ago
He said that this will also serve as the stepping stone for international trade that would contribute to economic growth in South Bougainville.
Paul said the establishment of the processing centre has been overlooked for many years and Tuesday’s groundbreaking signals the beginning of development and other spin off activities to take place in Kangu, Buin and South Bougainville.