Australian Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with LOTIC Bige Limited (LBL) Holdings to provide technical training for locals in Western Province.
The signing ceremony took place in Bige, Western Province. The agreement is a significant step forward in providing local regional training to increase employment for rural communities. It will provide skills training for locals to actively participate in employment, business and offshoot opportunities within Western Province.
LBL Holdings Chief Executive Officer Anthony Amerasinghe said there is a great need for more skilled local workers in Western.
“The targeted training group is not limited to LBL Holdings Ltd employees; it is open to all Western Province locals who are actually the stakeholders of LBL Holdings Ltd. Our intention is to provide sustainable, affordable, applicable training to Western Province locals to actively participate in business and spinoff opportunities in the Western Province,” Mr. Amerasinghe said.
APTC Country Director, Dr Shaw described the agreement as a step towards sustainable development in Western Province, through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership.
“The principles behind the Agreement align with the latest phase of the APTC is to ensure employment outcomes through workforce development are achieved so that skills and attributes available to employers align to labour market requirements. LBL Holdings have committed to pursuing targeted pre-vocational training for local communities in order for people to become employable in local industries that support the Ok Tedi Mining Ltd operations in Kiunga and Bige”, he said.
APTC is funded by the Australian Government to provide Australian skills and qualifications for a wide range of vocational careers for skilled workers across the Pacific. It has been expanding its footprint across Papua New Guinea through improved partnerships with industry and Papua New Guinean workers.
LBL Holdings based in BIGE, North-Fly District of Western Province, is a locally owned personnel and contracts management company. Presently the company is involved in contracting approximately 500 professional nationals and expatriates, semi-skilled and unskilled national workers to Ok Tedi Mining Limited and its user departments, other organisations and in its own operation.
Construction of a new training centre in Kiunga and the delivery of Australian-accredited pre-vocational programs, such as Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways is expected to take place this year.
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Seated (l-r): APTC Country Director Dr. Brad Shaw and LBL Holdings Chief Executive Officer Anthony Amerasinghe
Back (l-r): Representatives from Ok Tedi Mining Limited, Ok Tedi Investment Company LBL Holdings and Nima Ara Association – witnessing the MoA signing.