Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG)

The office was established by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) with the technical support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

This significant milestone marks a crucial step toward addressing the issue of persons who went missing during the Bougainville Conflict and providing solace to affected families.

Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama made this statement following the Bougainville Executive Council’s decision to refuse the mineral licence applications by joint-venture entities involving Wyndale Holdings Pty Ltd and its local partners.

The Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) is the authority on Bougainville that grants mineral exploration license applications upon advice from the Bougainville Mining Advisory Council.

Toroama made this statement during the recent signing of a shareholders agreement with the Bougainville Refinery Limited (BRL) in Buka.

Toroama stressed that BRL is one project that will highlight and give assurance to investors coming into Bougainville, adding that under the 60/40 arrangement, 40 percent for the government and its people will be broken further to drive independence aspirations and also to set up a sovereign wealth fund.

This collaboration aims to provide targeted training to elected officials, both women and men, in order to foster good governance, inclusive decision-making, citizen-focused consultation, and project identification.

To support this endeavor, a substantial investment of $12 million has been allocated for the construction of Community Government halls and offices across nineteen constituencies. Recently, the communities of Haku, Tsitalato, Tonsu, and Selau-Suir in North Bougainville marked the opening of their newly constructed Community Government halls and offices.

Secretary for the ABG Department of Treasury and Finance, Johny Auna, said the regional and district rollout program began early this year with the aim of decentralising functions and bringing financial services closer to the people.

Through this, the Department has established their services in Central and South Bougainville in the first quarter of this year and government officers at the district level now have ease-of-access to financial services.

ABG Acting President, Patrick Nisira, made the call in a media conference this week, where he also announced an open invitation to Trade Missions to set up their offices on Bougainville.

Nisira, who is also Minister responsible for Commerce, Trade and Economic Development, said these efforts, including the development of special economic zones in Bougainville, are part of the Government’s plans to create economic growth and drive responsible business partnerships with international and national partners.

President Ishmael Toroama reiterated during the recent cabinet reshuffle, and appointment of new ministers, that the six-point strategy of his government is the guiding principle in achieving the ultimate goal of making Bougainville independent politically, socially and economically.

“Every Minister in the Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) is expected to utilise the six-point strategy to achieve your respective ministry and department’s strategic plans and development goals,” he said.

The Six-Point Strategy is:

Three Ministers have been decommissioned with three new appointments to replace them and a reshuffle within cabinet saw several Ministers reassigned to new portfolios.

The new ministers that were sworn in on Tuesday include:

Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President, Ishmael Toroama, said they will be launching Bougainville Refinery Limited and the Bougainville Water Bottling company.

“These two new companies are initiatives of this government and will begin earning much-needed revenue for Bougainville,” he said during the 2023 dedication service yesterday.

“It is time we stop looking at tax as the only viable revenue earner for Bougainville and start earning revenue that comes directly to the government from our investments.

Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President, Ishmael Toroama, said for 2023, they will be building more roads, hospitals and schools.

Key programs that are already underway or will be carried out this year are: