Lakeba villages and communities across the Lau Group are expected to benefit from new economic opportunities following the handover of a portable sawmill worth $60,000 to Lakeba Nexus Holding Pte Ltd.
The sawmill will support plans to sustainably harvest and process about 446,000 cubic metres of standing pine timber over the next 15 years while ensuring replanting for long-term sustainability.
The project is also expected to create employment opportunities, develop local timber processing skills and keep more economic benefits within the island community.
The assistance was funded under the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management's Rural Outer Island (ROI) Development Programme after a proposal was submitted by the company in May this year.
Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, Mosese Bulitavu officiated at the handover to the Turaga na Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, and commended the company's vision to establish a large-scale commercial forestry operation on Lakeba.
Bulitavu says the sawmill forms part of wider Government investments in Lakeba, with about $500,000 already invested through the Office of the Divisional Commissioner Eastern to strengthen economic and maritime infrastructure.
These investments include the deployment of the Lau Workboat to improve transportation and connectivity across the islands and the installation of a blast freezer to boost fisheries production, reduce post-harvest losses and increase income opportunities for local fishers.
Bulitavu also stressed the importance of responsible resource management and called on Lakeba Nexus Holding Pte Ltd to maintain high standards of safety, operational management and sustainable forestry practices.
