Israel, PNG sign agro deal

 THE National Executive Council has approved a joint venture with an Israel group to develop the agro-industry in Papua New Guinea.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Cabinet agreed to partner the LR Group of Israel in a joint venture.

O’Neill said the Government and the LR Group would develop a dairy farm and production project at the Ilimo Farm in Central and an agro-industry project in the Morobe.

“Cabinet endorsed the inclusion of these two strategic projects in the Government’s Public Investment Programme  for 2014-2017,” he said.

“It appointed and directed the State project team under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to Government with representatives of the Department of Prime Minister and NEC, Treasury, National Planning, Attorney-General, Health, Agriculture and Livestock, the Central and Morobe provincial governments (in relation to the projects in their respective provinces) to oversee, negotiate and facilitate the development and implementation of the two projects,” he said.

“Agriculture is where we can make a real difference to the lives of the majority of our people. 

Israel is a global leader in agriculture innovation and food security, and the LR Group is at the forefront of that country’s advancement in this sector.”