Official: Rabaul key to province’s economy

 RABAUL plays an important role in the economy of East New Britain, especially through the Rabaul port,  Rabaul district administration chief executive officer Marakan Uvano says.

He told key stakeholders and development partners namely National Fisheries Authority, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), marine exporters, fish farmers, cooperative societies that attended a validation workshop for ENB provincial fisheries five year development plan 2015-2021 in Kokopo last week.

Uvano said since the 1994 volcanic eruptions, Rabaul town had reduced in population – from 30,000 to 4000 – with one quarter of the town remaining.

“Most services and population have moved to Kokopo or other provinces but Rabaul still plays an important role in the economy, especially through the Rabaul port.

“East New Britain cannot survive without Rabaul and that is the significance of the port.”

He said in terms of development outlook for Rabaul, they were planning to do more development to the eastern side of Rabaul that had two thirds of it destroyed during the eruptions.

“While we are talking about the major fisheries projects, we plan to re-zone and incorporate these developments in.”

“We are fortunate that this project is on the discussion table because we see it as catalyst to help us expand and re-grow.”

Uvano said most investors were scared of investing in Rabaul town but one could not run away from natural disasters.

“Rabaul was once the pearl of the Pacific and we want to maintain that.”