21 Feb 2011

Huge funding boost for Bougainville

11:25 am on 21 February 2011

The autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville has received nearly 200 million US dollars in funding from the national government.

The money is to be used in key infrastructure projects over the next five years.

The National newspaper says the government's assistance was aimed at reviving the economy of the strife-torn region.

The agreement also included resolutions to transfer several national government powers, including education, health, lands, forest, agriculture and the teaching service.

Projects to be covered under the restoration and development financial package included the reopening of the Aropa airport, Arawa hospital, Buka airport and the relocation of the administration headquarters from Buka to Arawa.