National Research Institute to carry out study into Goroka Show

By MALUM NALU

Goroka Show organising committee has commissioned the National Research Institute to carry out a study into the socio-economic benefits of the show to Goroka, Eastern Highlands province and Papua New Guinea.

The committee will pay for NRI researcher Ronald Sofe, who is also from EHP, to carry out the study.

This was agreed to at a meeting last Thursday between NRI’s outgoing deputy director of research Dr Musawe Sinebare, who is the new Education Secretary, Sofe and committee members Tom Solepa and Wilson Thompson.

Sinebare was said was probably the first time that a show committee had engaged the NRI to do such a study.

“This is probably the first time that a show committee has approached us to do a case study of a show,” he said.

“The idea is good.

“There’s no point having a show when we don’t know the economic benefits to the province.”

Solepa said despite Goroka having the oldest show in Papua New Guinea, there were no proper records or tangible assets.

“It (Goroka show) has a very long history,” he said.

“However, despite its length of existence, there’s nothing tangible on the ground.

“I see that there’s a need to get a structure in place, which is something that we’ve talked about at committee level.

“The whole idea is to have information and data available.”

He gave K5,000 as first installment payment to NRI to carry out the study.

Solepa thanked Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for the K700,000 contribution to the Goroka Show this year, which he said would go a long way towards self-sustainability in future, including the study by NRI.

Sofe is expected to complete the research before he travels to Australia for further studies in 2012.