The economic sector in East New Britain province has been challenged to use this year's annual economic sector conference to find solutions towards impediments in economic development. This was the stern message issued by the member of Pomio and National Health Minister, Elias Kapavore, when opening the 2024 ENB Economic Sector Annual Conference, held in Pomio District recently. He said that this weeklong meeting should not be another avenue to talk about the same things, but rather it should be used by the sector stakeholders to come up with resolutions and innovations to address issues faced by farmers, fisherfolks and small business operators in the province. “Next year is an important milestone for PNG. We will celebrate fifty years of our country's political independence but it's taking us more than 30-40 years to gain economic independence.” After the initial program was held last year in Kokopo, Kapavore said that it's time to stop talking and start putting into action what has been discussed in the previous meeting last year. “Our farmers are struggling out there. They need help so echoing what the Deputy Provincial Administrator said, by now we should establish monitoring, evaluation, research and quality control systems, to safeguard all these productions in our area." Meanwhile, Pomio District Administrator, John Liskia also stressed on the need to chart a new economic development path for the province. “I think Pomio is the ideal place for the ENBPA to talk about economic development, because Pomio District is a sleeping economic giant.” In fact, Pomio district has successfully trialed a number of crops only grown in the highlands part of the country, such as potato, bulb onion, broccoli, coffee as well as rice. The economic programs being rolled out are in line with the district's five-Year Development Plan, which is based on three key pillars on good governance, economic empowerment and integral human development. “In this conference, I want us to focus on what we can do with the available resources, so to increase the revenue of the province through the economic sector. We need to go into downstream processing of these raw products and add more value.” Liskia also acknowledged the support from political leaders in the province, including Minister Kapavore and members of the Provincial Government, towards the program. Echoing Minister Kapavore's remarks on the need for the business arms, both for the province and districts to take lead in business ventures, Liskia said that these entities should be in the forefront of investment opportunities for the province. When highlighting the conference theme on 'Enhancing prosperity through partnership, building a robust and resilient economy', Deputy Provincial Administrator for Socio-Economic Services (SES) Marakan Uvano said that there are 2 key messages derived from it. “Enhancing prosperity is our vision, which is in line with our Strategic Development Plan (2023 - 2033) and the Vision 2050, while the second part on building a robust and resilient economy is our mandate as public servants.” In addition, the conference seeks to provide a valuable platform for effective stakeholder dialogue towards common development goals for economic advancement in the province. The program saw the attendance of public servants in the economic sector under the four ENBPA Divisions of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), Fisheries and Commerce, as well as the Natural Resources Management and Development (NRMD) Unit, from the Provincial Headquarter right down to the districts and Local Level Governments. Furthermore, stakeholders in attendance included Women and Youth in Agriculture (WYA), PNG Cocoa Board, Commerce Department through the Cooperative Societies Unit, CPL, Growers Association, FPDA, BSP Life Insurance, IRC and Kada Poroman Microfinance Ltd (KPML), amongst others. Presentations were done on the first day (Monday 18th of November) by other ENBPA Divisions and units.