By ROMULUS MASIU

BOUGAINVILLE leaders both in the National and Autonomous Bougainville Government’s (ABG) need to have faith in the small Bougainvillean businesses and support them in every way to grow and create wealth for the region. 

Outspoken Central Bougainville Business Association vice chairman Dickson Siparu made the call on Wednesday, at the same time reminding Bougainville parliamentarians that the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is a very good alternative to mining.

He said the three great assets that Bougainville has are its people, abundance of resources and above all a budding SME sector which currently comprises of mostly wholesale and retail business but has a strong interest in manufacturing and downstream processing to add value to cash crops and other natural resources.

"Genuine and sustainable development of Bougainville lies in the hands of Bougainvilleans and Bougainvillean-owned businesses”.

Mr Siparu who accompanied National government Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry Richard Maru to Malaysia to attend the SMEs exposition in Kuala Lumpur was taken aback on how much Malaysia depends on SMEs alone for creating employment and in providing so much revenue for the country through payment of taxes. 

He added that both Malaysia and Singapore do not depend on mining as a revenue earner and yet they are now developed countries with strong economies that have enabled them to have widespread trade and commercial interests in the countries in the region, including Australia and New Zealand.

"Bougainville is similar to these countries and has abundant resources which can support the government and its development programs through the operation of SMEs." 

"I would like to remind the Bougainville leaders both in the national government and ABG that small businesses have been thriving in Bougainville long before the peace process was established. They did not rely on government or any other support to get started and today these businesses continue to grow, slowly but surely."

"Bougainville people have always been described as proud, passionate and hard working with the ability to innovate and create to meet their needs and requirements, as demonstrated during the years that the National Government placed an economical blockade on the island."

"People with very little formal technical know-how have developed a brand of micro-hydro that provides free and sustainable power to villages in Central and South Bougainville."

"This is just one example of the sort of technological innovations that were developed during those times of need."

He said people need to be given the opportunity to develop.