13 Jun 2005

Business leader in PNG province of Bougainville urges focus on economic growth

6:45 am on 13 June 2005

A business leader in the Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville says the new administration will need to foster sustainable growth.

Robert Atsir, who heads the Bougainville Businessman's Association says the first priority is an assessment of the administration's capabilities.

He says within five years economic growth needs to be outstripping population growth.

"I think its important to promote full employment in both the formal and informal sectors and for us to review land matters to be able to facilitate that and the government should prioritise government revenue generating measures and I think Bougainvilleans must also be educated about how to be more efficient in running their businesses."

The new autonomous government in Bougainville is being inaugurated in Buka on Wednesday.