The Autonomous Bougainville Government has announced its intentions to collaborate with foreign investors, particularly from China, to pursue key development projects in the region. This decision comes amid growing interest from Chinese companies to invest in Bougainville's infrastructure and economy.
ABG Vice President and Minister for Commerce, Trade, Industry and Economic Development Hon. Patrick Nisira, made the announcement in light of public concerns and interest in ABG’s interactions with foreign investors.
Minister Nisira acknowledged the public concerns about China’s Belt and Road Initiative and emphasized the need for independent decision-making, free from biased information sources.
“Information that influences these perspectives is taken from western media sources which clouds independent and informed decision making by the government to pursue development initiatives. The dearth of options from traditional development partners over the last 20 years, a rapidly shortening timeframe for self-governance of Bougainville to 2027, and now Chinese companies approaches for partnerships in these very areas, make such opportunities worth considering for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Recent visits by Chinese interests, including the China Railway 25th Bureau Group, Boa Hua Whitehorse group, and Bougainville China Friendship association, have initiated discussions on potential partnerships. To explore these opportunities, an ABG delegation recently visited Shenzhen and Guangzhou, meeting with senior executives from China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).
“The ABG delegation’s trip was undertaken as a return leg reciprocating visits by Boa Hua White Horse Group in 2023 and going back a period of 10 years, and the CRCC Group 25 in March 2024. The ABG delegation met with senior company executives at the China Railway Construction Corporation Global Centre in Guangzhou. It was also a fact-finding mission as part of conducting due diligence on the two companies, forming the basis for continuing with a proposed Cooperation between the parties,” Minister Nisira explained.
The trip was also intended for the delegation and Cabinet Ministers to evaluate the set-up of the Bougainville Trade Office by the Ministry and Department of Commerce, Trade, Industry and Economic Development.
“Setting up of the Trade Office is cognition of the PNG Sovereign powers and formalities will be established soon between the ABG and the Government of PNG for accreditation of the office to the PNG Embassy in Beijing, China.”
An MoU was signed to foster collaboration, with detailed agreements to be drafted for specific projects. The government sees these investments as crucial for Bougainville's economic growth and infrastructure development, aligning with its aspirations for nationhood.
Minister Nisira says the Bougainville Executive Council has endorsed the outcome of this mission with an official invitation extended to CRCC to commence scoping exercises for the projects outlined in the MOU. These companies have shown interest in projects like expanding Buka airport, establishing a cold storage facility, improving water supply, and constructing highways and hospitals.
“Bougainville has not seen major infrastructure development since the Japanese government’s JICA- funded bridges program. Bougainville’s alignment with the West for over a century has seen a very slow pace of development and lack of basic services like affordable power, access to water and good road links.”
“As a responsible government, the ABG continues to seek development assistance both within and outside its traditional partnership circles, and finds Chinese-led investment which emphasizes Infrastructural Development aligning perfectly with Bougainville’s nationhood aspirations due to the transformational effect it will have on all socio-economic aspects of the region,” he said.
