10 Aug 2005

Solomons Aulutu Palm Oil Project expected to generate thousands of jobs in Malaita

10:40 am on 10 August 2005

Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock says the Aulutu Palm Oil Project would provide around five thousand jobs when it opens.

Edward Kingmele says the project is expected to take up more than five thousand hectares of the Auluta basin in Malaita.

He says the department is about to invite tenders for the project and hopes to have a memorandum of understanding signed before the end of this year.

Mr Kingmele says once the MOU is signed the project may start at the beginning of next year.

Meanwhile he says he's happy about the progress of the current registration of landowners and says the project relies on the full cooperation and support of landowners.

The SIBC reports Mr Kingmele also revealed interest in the oil palm project has already been shown by a Malaysian company.