Trade and commerce investment vital: Lera

Trade and commerce investment must be the focal economic platform for Bougainville to sustain and generate a steady flow of income, a local MP says.
Bougainville Governor Joe Lera raised the concern when visiting community governments in South, Central and North Bougainville recently.
He said at the moment Bougainville was only generating a revenue of K20 million.
Lera said this was below the budget that the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) needed to manage its affairs.
He said he stood ready to work with the ABG leaders, administration and people to drive trade and investment.
“Trade and commerce investments are business activities that Bougainville can produce and trade to international markets,” Lera said.
He said these included agriculture, fishing, tourism, downstream processing of cocoa and coconut, alluvial mining and forestry.
Lera urged all leaders and businesses in Bougainville to promote and tap into trade and commerce investments.
He said this was the “hardest and longest way of nation building but at the end, majority of the population will benefit and Bougainville can have a strong economic foundation”.
Lera said as Bougainville prepared for the vote on referendum that would determine its political future, leaders must all contribute and work together towards unity and prosperity.