The newly elected regional member for Papua New Guinea's autonomous province of Bougainville, Joe Lera, says more emphasis on agricultural and vocational training will help foster economic growth.
He has already established the first of what will be three schools and three colleges in Bougainville to teach agriculture and vocational skills.
Mr Lera says there should be an emphasis on this before the province returns to mining because mining would provide few opportunities for employment for most Bougainvilleans.
He says Bougainville has a population of 300,000, with 40 percent of them in the age group from 15 to 25.
Mr Lera says it is a very youthful society and these young people have few opportunities.
"If you focus on things like agriculture, technical education, at least even if they don't get you jobs they can use the knowledge and skills they gain to create jobs for themselves. That's my thinking."
The newly elected regional member for Papua New Guinea's autonomous province of Bougainville, Joe Lera.
