The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) have opened an apparel training centre in Arawa, creating a new pathway for skills development and economic opportunities for women and girls across Bougainville.
ABG President Ishmael Toroama and LMEL managing director Balasubramanian Prabhakaran officially opened the Lloyds Apparel Training Centre today in the presence of Central Bougainville parliamentarians, LMEL staff, community leaders, trainees and members of the public.
The centre is a joint initiative between the ABG and LMEL and will initially train 150 women and girls from across Bougainville in apparel manufacturing.
Toroama described the initiative as a tangible outcome of the Bougainville peace process and an important step towards the region's target of achieving self-government by September 1, 2027.
"We must be matured. We must train our women. We must train our youth so that when the declaration by the President is being made for next year, you can see that empowerment," Toroama said.
He also acknowledged LMEL's investment in Bougainville and its efforts to create economic opportunities beyond the mineral sector.
Toroama said initiatives such as the apparel centre would be critical to developing Bougainville's internal revenue base as it prepares for self-government and pursues its long-term independence aspirations.
"I told [LMEL] if you believe in the terms that Bougainville stood firm and fought to become an independent sovereign nation, then I will take you on board," Toroama recalled of his first meeting with Prabhakaran.
He said the partnership reflected a shared interest in ensuring that economic opportunities generated in Bougainville benefited its people.
"The government will not be greedy" and "Lloyds Metal will not be greedy," Toroama said.
The president said Bougainville's aspirations were increasingly being supported by practical initiatives rather than remaining distant hopes.
"We are not dreaming. It's no longer a dream. Your leaders have provided this opportunity for all our younger people here in Bougainville," he said.
Prabhakaran described the opening as "a great painting of our dream into a reality" and said the centre was intended to eventually enable Bougainvilleans to own and manage apparel businesses.
"You are not working; you are owning this unit. You are going to be the owner of this mission," Prabhakaran said.
The long-term plan is to establish smaller apparel manufacturing units in communities across Bougainville, allowing women to work closer to their homes and families.
The initiative aims to eventually create opportunities for up to 2,000 people and produce uniforms and other garments for schools, hospitals and the mining sector.
"We commit to see that we will make this as a global apparel manufacturing hub of the world," Prabhakaran said.
The centre will initially focus on meeting local demand and reducing the cost of garments in Bougainville. Over time, the initiative aims to expand production and eventually export locally manufactured garments to neighbouring countries.
The first 150 trainees will undertake a three-month training programme, with trainers already in place at the facility. Commercial-scale production is expected to follow the completion of the initial training phase.
The initiative adds an economic diversification component to LMEL's engagement with Bougainville, while giving local women and young people an opportunity to develop skills that can support longer-term employment and business ownership.
