Chinese delegation visits Panguna

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
A seven-man delegation of Chinese investors visited the Panguna mine site last Wednesday.
Bougainville government officials said contrary to a Post-Courier report they had not been chased away from the mine.
The officials said there had been a misunderstanding with a former combatant commander that nearly led to the investors being turned away from entering the mine site.
Another ex-combatant commander, Ishmael Toroama, on hearing of the delegation’s dilemma, travelled to Panguna and ensure that the investors visit was not disrupted.
Toroama, in a recent ex-combatant commander’s meeting, had on behalf of former commanders in the region, expressed support for economic initiatives taken by the Autonomous Bougainville Government and had assured that the former combatants would be working in unity to boost economic growth in the region.
The Bougainville government officials said the recent lot of Chinese investors were mainly interested in mining investment opportunities in the region.
Another group of investors from China are expected on Wednesday, to look at investment opportunities on hydro energy resources.
Their visit this week will bring close to 30 Chinese investors who have visited the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in the past two months.