The Newly built Ihu Market, in the Rural Ihu Local Level Government of Kikori District was officially opened by the Prime Minister, Honorable. James Marape on Friday 03rd July, in front of close to a thousand people from the surrounding villages in Ihu.
Valued at the cost of K0.7 million, this state-of-the-art market building infrastructure and facilities was built by HSBL, a local building and construction contractor from Gulf Province.
The new market infrastructure contains a three-winged market shelter, with close to 5o cemented benches and seats, a small office building for the market authority, a toilet and shower block, 2x water tanks, incinerator to burn rubbish with cement pavements from the market gate, connected to the market building and the other facilities in the market compound.
“The Ihu Market together with the development of Baimuru Market will stimulate local economy, improve livelihoods, support farmers and fishermen, and provide safer and more organized trading facilities for the locals and it’s communities,” Marape told the people, who gathered to witness the occasion.
He congratulated the Kikori District Development Authority under the leadership of their Chairman, Parliamentary Leader and Minister for DPLLGA, Hon. Soroi Eoe for making such a project a reality for the people to boost their financial activity and capacity to grow their local economy.
Marape also told the People of Ihu that this market indicates the work that is happening in Ihu and a timely intervention where the local population can sell their local products in a conducive environment and can later mobilize properly to sell their local products to Papua LNG when it kicks of operations in the district.
When touring the inside of the market after officially opening the market, the Prime Minister was equally delighted and impressed by the quality of the market infrastructure and facilities.
“As far as work is concerned, I would like to thank the local contractors for making sure the people receive the value for their money, where they have a proper market to sell their local produce and earn income,” said Marape.
Prime Minister further added that, under the Connect PNG program, the government is giving first preferences to local contractors. And what HSBL has demonstrator by employing over 60 workers to build this market infrastructure, demonstrated that we can created more employment opportunities for Papua New Guineans when we engage more local contractors.
Minister Eoe, thanked the Prime Minister for making time available to come and officiate at this significant occasion for the commissioning of integrated development investments and opening of the Ihu Market for the people of Ihu and Kikori District as a whole.
He strongly urged the local people of Ihu and the surrounding communities to show maturity and responsibility by taking ownership of this new market infrastructure and look after it. He told them that bringing projects down to the district is not easy. And what they have witnessed indicates that the government is focused on building the country from district upwards, and it is up to the people to take ownership.
Meanwhile, other delegates both National and Provincial Level, who also accompanied the Prime Minister to witness the commissioning and opening ceremony event were, Kerema MP and Minister for Finance, Honorable Thomas Opa, Gulf Provincial Administrator, Acting Gulf Governor and Gulf provincial administration officers.
