Donor community will remain vital partners, says president

PRESIDENT Ishmael Toroama says the donor community will remain an important development partner until Bougainville is economically independent.
He said these donors had contributed significantly over the last 30 years especially over the crisis period, the restoration, peace process, the establishment of the autonomous region, and the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
President Toroama said as part of independence preparations, his government had placed particular emphasis on building Bougainville’s economic capacity to generate internal revenue.
“Development aid on Bougainville must now be focused on developing our economic sectors in key areas identified by the Autonomous Bougainville Government to create a fiscally self-reliant Bougainville.”