Redevelopment of market aims to boost local economy

By MICHAEL LAI
THE redevelopment of Goroka Main Market will specialise in selling agricultural produce to boost the local economy, says Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu, pictured.
He said this in Port Moresby last week during the payment of K7.5 million mobilisation costs for the market redevelopment.
Numu said agriculture was the backbone of the economy in Eastern Highlands and his government wanted to promote that.
He said agriculture had the greatest potential to drive the Eastern Highlands economy, followed by road infrastructure and investment.
“We have already set up three mini-markets in three districts, which will follow on to rest of the five districts,” Numu said.
He said Goroka Main Market was going to be the largest and managed by the market authority.
Numu said it was planned for the Goroka market to have registered sellers.
“The farmers will only sell to them,” he said.
“The registered sellers will pack them, sell them and store the surplus in freezer. Government will buy it from the registered people in the market and find market such as Moresby or elsewhere to sell.
“We pay the people with the same price and make sure there is consistency in production and supply to meet the demand there.”
He said smaller markets would be built in each of the eight districts.