Formally Endorsed at Every Stage
The Bougainville Economic Corridor programme, and the Soraken node specifically, have been formally considered and endorsed through a series of Bougainville Executive Council decisions.
A Documented Decision Trail
Certified copies of both BEC decisions below are held on file with the Office of the Bougainville Executive Council and are available to the National Executive Council, the Special Economic Zones Authority and the Department of International Trade and Investment on request, in support of this submission.
BEC Decision No. 20 of 2022
Special BEC Meeting No. 4 of 2022. The Council approved the Bougainville Economic Corridor project proposal, recognised the developer arrangements for the corridor project, and directed the Minister for DPI, Forestry & Marine Resources to progress an application to the National Special Economic Zones Authority for a Special Economic Zone licence.
The Council further authorised capital-raising arrangements to support project development, and instructed national agencies, including the Department of National Planning & Monitoring, the National Treasury Department, the National Finance Department, the National Procurement Commission and the Office of the State Solicitor, to support the Project Formulation Documents, funding, procurement and legal clearance processes required to advance the Corridor.
BEC Decision No. 52 of 2023
Special BEC Meeting No. 13 of 2023. The Council approved the establishment of the Bougainville Special Economic Zones (BEZs) Secretariat and its work plan, and approved appropriation of K2,000,000 for the programme in the 2024 Budget, with a re-scoping of K200,000 from the 2023 development budget to meet feasibility-study and initial work.
The Council confirmed that the Department of Commerce, Trade, Industry and Economic Development is the lead coordinating agency for the Secretariat, and recommended the future establishment of a BEC Ministerial Committee on Special Economic Zones.
Intergovernmental Coordination
The Hon. Robin Wilson, MHR, ABG Minister for Economic Development, wrote to the Hon. Richard Maru, MP, Minister for International Trade and Investment, to formally update the National Government on the Corridor's progress and to propose a joint technical workshop between the Ministry, the PNG Special Economic Zones Authority and relevant national agencies.
The correspondence confirmed that, following readiness assessments of all seven proposed SEZ locations, Soraken has emerged as the most investment-ready site, and that SIDCL has been established to mobilise investment and coordinate project delivery. The proposed workshop is intended to:
- Present the Bougainville Economic Corridor Development Framework to national counterparts
- Review progress achieved on the Soraken pilot Special Economic Zone
- Confirm the remaining statutory and technical licensing requirements
- Strengthen coordination between the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government
Three formal decisions, four years apart, all pointing the same direction: Soraken as Bougainville's priority Special Economic Zone.