Dept sought development policy

THE Office of Co-operative Societies under the Commerce and Industry Department is conducting regional policy consultation workshops to gauge views from relevant stakeholders.
The consultative workshop ended in Rabaul, East New Britain last week and will continue in other provinces to develop the country’s Co-operative Societies Development Policy.
The Office of Co-operative Societies said in a statement that Commerce and Industry Minister Wera Mori was championing the drive for rural economic development and this policy was timely in order to direct relevant stakeholders’ attention.
It said:

• The policy would set a practical framework to empower local people to organise themselves into co-operative societies and undertake small to medium size economic and business activities to earn income and improve and sustain their livelihoods;
• the government was now focusing on the development of the non-extractive industries like agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, tourism and the services sector to grow the economy.

This is where more of the local people will be encouraged to participate through SMEs and Co-operative societies; and

• Collectively co-operative societies can contribute significantly towards the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and improve its economic conditions.
  The Co-operative Societies stated that it was an achievement for the Commerce and Industry Department to come up with this policy that would be used as a tool by the relevant stakeholders and development partners to drive the co-operative sector forward.
  The Co-operative Sector can partner both with the public and private sectors by involving Papua New Guineans to mobilise their resources and undertake various small to medium size business and economic activities that will lead to overall development of the economy.”
  It said the policy would address many social issues that the Government attempted to address through many of its other policies.
  “Amongst others, the issue of unemployment will be addressed through the concept, as co-operative societies will provide employment opportunities for many people including school leavers in the thousands of co-operative societies that will be operating across the nation,” the society said.
  “It will also address poverty alleviation as the co-operative societies will bring much needed cash back into family units in the rural communities who will use it to improve their living standards.