Deal signed for Western locals to get training

Australian Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) recently signed a memorandum-of-agreement with Lotic Bige Ltd (LBL) Holdings to provide technical training for locals in Western.
The agreement is a significant step forward in providing local regional training to increase employment for rural communities.
It will provide skills training for locals to actively participate in employment, business and offshoot opportunities within Western.
LBL Holdings chief executive officer Anthony Amerasinghe said there was a great need for more skilled local workers in Western.
“The targeted training group is not limited to LBL Holdings Ltd employees,” he said.
“It is open to all Western province locals who are actually the stakeholders of LBL Holdings Ltd.
“Our intention is to provide sustainable, affordable, applicable training to Western province locals to actively participate in business and spinoff opportunities in the Western Province.”
APTC country director Dr Brad Shaw described the agreement as a step towards sustainable development in Western, through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership.
“The principles behind the agreement align with the latest phase of the APTC, which is to ensure employment outcomes through workforce development are achieved so that skills and attributes available to employers align to labour market requirements,” he said.
“LBL Holdings have committed to pursuing targeted pre-vocational training for local communities in order for people to become employable in local industries that support the Ok Tedi Mining Ltd operations in Kiunga and Bige.”