UNDP and the Government of Japan launch their first Innovation Hub in Bougainville

The newly opened Innovation Hub in Buka will seek to stimulate the local economy by supporting Bougainvilleans in starting and expanding their own micro-, small-, and medium-sized businesses

April 18, 2024

The President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Hon. Ishmael Toroama (middle); the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Nobuyuki Watanabe (left); and UNDP Resident Representative, Nicholas Booth, (right) attended the inauguration.

Clive Hawigen | UNDP Papua New Guinea

The official inauguration of the Innovation Hub was celebrated in Buka today on 18 April 2024. The President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Hon. Ishmael Toroama; the Ambassador of Japan to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Nobuyuki Watanabe; and UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Nicholas Booth attended the opening ceremony. This is the first of three Innovation Hubs, which UNDP and the Government of Japan will be launching in all three districts of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville this year.

The Hubs seek to boost entrepreneurship and digital literacy on the island by providing local community members, particularly women, youth and other underserved groups, access to trainings, resources and facilities commonly unavailable to them. The Innovation Hubs are being constructed under UNDP’s and the Government of Japan’s ‘Sustaining Peace Through Economic Empowerment’ project, which seeks to support Bougainville in establishing its economic base after a decade of civil conflict.

This is the first of three Innovation Hubs to be opened in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville this year.

Clive Hawigen | UNDP Papua New Guinea

Some of the facilities in the newly opened Innovation Hub in the capital of Bougainville, Buka, include an incubator space for aspiring entrepreneurs, a women’s resource center, and an IT lab. These facilities will be used to host seminars and workshops on essential entrepreneurial skills and local industries with potential for major economic growth.

“Sustaining the hard-won peace in Bougainville is not possible without the economic empowerment of its citizens. I am convinced that these Innovation Hubs will help unleash the creative and enterprising spirit of Bougainvilleans of all backgrounds and contribute to building a firm economic foundation,” UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Nicholas Booth, stated in his remarks at the opening ceremony.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the historical relationship between Japan and Bougainville. This project is a testament to the trust and confidence that Japan and UNDP place on Bougainville’s potential. It presents our shared vision for a prosperous, peaceful and sustainable future for this beautiful island. I hope that this Innovation Hub will contribute to empowering women and youth realizing their critical role in shaping the future of Bougainville,” stated the Ambassador of Japan to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Nobuyuki Watanabe.

“The Government of Japan does not have a physical presence in Bougainville, yet the impact of its contribution to the Bougainville Peace Process is widely felt throughout our region. Your contributions have been transformative and these Hubs will be essential to pivoting our future towards a more globalized way of thinking and doing business. It is time for our citizens to embrace innovative business practices through new ideas and technologies,” concluded the President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Hon. Ishmael Toroama, in his remarks.

The Innovation Hubs will particularly support women, youth and other underserved groups in Bougainville.

Clive Hawigen | UNDP Papua New Guinea

To ensure that all the Innovation Hubs enjoy a steady supply of electricity, UNDP and the Government of Japan are also installing solar photovoltaic systems on the grounds of each facility through their joint ‘Pacific Green Transformation Project’. The project seeks to support four countries in the Pacific (Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor Leste and Vanuatu) in tapping into their potential for harnessing the power of renewable energy.

The remaining two Innovation Hubs under construction in Arawa and Buin are expected to be completed, opened and functioning by May 2024.