Six people have been assisted under the Government’s Forest Subsidy Assistance worth $50,000.
While handing over woodworking tools and machines Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau also highlighted that since 2016, 12 people have been assisted through this programme.
Koroilavesau says wood carvers have been for a very long time neglected in terms of real assistance.
The Minister adds that this programme, provides the leverage that is needed in order to open up doors and create the opportunity to those with skills and key potentials for wood carving in order to lift them up to another level in production.
A total of $50,000 was spent on acquiring these specialized value adding machines, and government has also set aside an additional $50,000 for further assistance to local wood carvers who may need assistance.
While thanking the government for the assistance, one of the recipients Sukulu Soko from Ogea, Lau says he will develop products from bamboo in the hopes to grow and expand his handicraft.
He adds that the machines he will enable him to increase the quality and productivity of bamboo made products.
