The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Steamships Trading Company (Steamships) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework for collaboration between ABG institutions, traditional land custodians and Steamships.
The MOU follows a longstanding series of consultative engagements between traditional land custodians, key ABG departments and Steamships aimed at strengthening alignment on the land engagement process in Bougainville.
These engagements brought together the Office of the Chief Secretary; the Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Environment, Conservation and Climate Change; the Department of Community Government and District Affairs; the Department of Commerce, Trade, Industry and Economic Development; and the Department of Justice and Legal Services, providing a platform to work together to address key land management matters.
This collaborative process will assist the ABG in sustainably developing land with titleholders and future developers, allowing the government to realise its full economic potential for the benefit of the people of Bougainville.
Steamships holds title to properties in Central Bougainville acquired prior to the Bougainville Crisis. Noting that this process commenced in 2021, the company reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to working through a structured and considered consultative process in partnership with traditional land custodians and the government to address the various complexities associated with undertaking such critical foundational work.
This collaborative process is guided by a focus on responsible investment, stakeholder engagement and alignment with Bougainville’s broader economic priorities. As a responsible developer, Steamships emphasised that its future decisions will consider opportunities to support local economic participation, employment and sustainable development outcomes.
Representatives from the ABG and traditional land custodian groups welcomed the consultative and collaborative approach.
The formalisation of this framework marks a significant step in strengthening cooperation between government, traditional land custodians, the private sector and foreign investors as Bougainville continues its recovery and development journey toward independence.
