Official: More rural jobs will help balance economy

 By Eric Balaria

MORE jobs need to be created in rural areas to ensure Papua New Guinea has a balanced economy, New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL) chief executive Nick Thompson says. 

He said most jobs were based in urban centres while the country’s focus was on the extractive industries such as oil, gas and mining.

“The fundamentals in PNG are that we got a large population that is looking for work,” Thompson said. 

“We have to create good jobs, with good housing and good infrastructure in rural areas.

“To me this is absolutely critical if PNG is going to have a balanced economy going forward.”

He added that the agriculture industry was one way where jobs could be created for villagers to allow economic growth in the rural sector.

He said NBPOL, as an oil palm producer, supported Prime Minster Peter O’Neill’s aim in making agriculture an important aspect the economy.

“In terms of overall general economic impact that the company can have, he (Prime Minister) recently made a speech on how important agriculture is in the future of PNG economy,” Thompson said. 

“He views growth in the agricultural sector as absolutely critical for creating rural jobs.

“We have lots of people, very productive land and essentially because of the nature of the country, we can usually get the products by exports to high paid markets. And I believe NBPOL is the vehicle best equipped to deliver that.”

Thompson said with the acquisition of NBPOL by Malaysian conglomerate, Sime Darby, both companies would work together to expand the growth of the oil palm industry in the agriculture sector and offer more job opportunities for locals.