Communities around the Sepik Plains are set to benefit from projects of the Special Economic Zone.
The Sepik Chicken, Grain and Cocoa Innovative Project is just one such project under the Special Economic Zone.
The project is expected to create an initial 30,000 jobs for locals.
On Sunday, communities from around the Sepik Plains in the East Yangoru LLG and other surrounding LLGs arrived in truck-loads to the project site.
They witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony for the infrastructure work to begin in the next few weeks. This work is expected to be finished by June next year.
Community leaders expressed support for the project and acknowledged that it will also create access to vital services that have been absent in the area for over 40 years.
The Sepik Chicken, Grain and Cocoa Innovative Project is an integrated agriculture project between the government and Innovative Agro Industries Ltd of the LR Group of Israel.
Chairman of LR Group, Illan Weis, was also present.
Member for Yangoru-Saussia and Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru, told the gathering that the project will see the establishment of chicken production, a commercial cocoa plantation and grain production.
Stock feed processing will also be associated with the chicken production venture.
5,000 hectares has been allocated for this project.
One of the main aims of the project is to get the locals engaged in agriculture technique training; self-sustenance; wealth creation; as well as usher in development and improved service deliver for the district into the future.
The government has given K100 million for setting up the Special Economic Zone. K36 million of that money has already been spent.
Innovative Agro Industries has committed K50 million towards the Sepik Chicken, Grain and Cocoa Innovative Project. The project is expected to change the landscape as well as the livelihood of the people of the Sepik Plains.
