The National Government has successfully completed a weeklong awareness mission on the Covid-19 Economic Stimulus Package in Malaita Province this week.
An awareness team led by the Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga together with some Malaita MPs and government officials has reached out with information about the package and the processes and conditions involved.
Four teams have been deployed to the four major regions of the Province from East to West and North to South - holding meetings and visiting existing rural business activities involving in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism business establishments.
The teams have all returned to Honiara mid this week and will visit the last three remaining provinces next week.
People that have attended the awareness talks have commended the national government for initiating the package which is intended to assist existing business activities to remain operational in view of the negative impacts of covid-19.
People have also expressed satisfaction with the government for reaching out to explain the processes, selection criteria and other conditions for applying for the package.
The stimulus package was initiated to cushion the negative impacts of COVID 19 on the economy. The overall objective is to keep the economy afloat and to ensure it does not spiral down-wards.
The guiding principles of the stimulus include:
- Quick economic return.
- Significant impact on the rural and national economy in terms of employment and revenue.
- And long term platform for economic recovery phase post-COVID-19.
The government had concluded similar awareness talks in parts of Guadalcanal, Isabel, Western, Makira and Choiseul provinces.
Awareness for Central, Temotu and Rennell Bellona is set for next week as well.
Meanwhile, the Government has extended the application deadline for Provincial applicants to July 27.
Source: OPMC Media Release