Island communities in Lau are being urged to invest in their agricultural and marine resources to bolster local businesses and decrease dependence on the mainland. The Vanua of Lau is actively exploring ways to support entrepreneurship and promote small-scale enterprises across its various islands.
The initiative emphasizes the importance of producing goods locally to mitigate high transportation costs and to keep income circulating within the island communities. Aisake Taito, the Chief Executive Officer of the iTaukei Trust Board, highlighted that Lau is endowed with extensive idle land, including coconut plantations, alongside abundant marine resources that are ripe for sustainable development.
Taito stressed that these resources have the potential to foster long-term economic growth, particularly if community members take a leading role in their development. “This initiative is aimed at ensuring that our resources are used wisely and that our people are at the forefront of benefiting from them,” he stated.
Furthermore, the Lau Provincial Council is taking steps to identify and secure markets for locally produced goods, reinforcing the initiative’s goal of enhancing self-reliance while ensuring that island communities effectively utilize and protect their natural resources. This initiative reflects a positive and proactive approach to economic sustainability, promising to empower local communities and fortify their autonomy.
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