O’Neill emphasises need to strengthen sustainable sectors

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has emphasised the need to strengthen  sustainable sectors like agriculture and fisheries and particularly the small-medium enterprises (SME).
His message at a breakfast with the business community in Port Moresby yesterday came not long after the Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority imposed a moratorium on all new visa applications and visa extensions for working resident employment visas for non-citizens engaged in small-medium  companies, especially in the retail business.
O’Neill said: “As we move forward, we also have a renewed focus on being more self-sustaining in manufactured products.
“As a resource-rich nation, combined with a committed and better-trained workforce, we must become more self-reliant.
“Where we can produce more locally, we must do so. We will continue to diversify our economic base to create greater opportunity in sectors that include agriculture, tourism, forestry and fisheries to name a few.
“We need to stop going through the boom and bust cycles. We believe the downstream processing of our raw products offers opportunities to increase employment and to add significant value to our exports.
“We must make better use of our food produce to reduce our reliance on imported goods and to enhance food security in our country.
“We will widen the scope for manufacturing industries and create employment opportunities, and ensure we keep up with new technologies and access new markets.”