The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) welcomes the initiative by the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC) to construct an Open Integrated Market (OIM) on Betio, South Tarawa.
At the official ground-breaking ceremony on Thursday 24 November 2022, Minister of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Honourable Booti Nauan said that “the prime objective of the Open Integrated Market is to provide a one stop shop or market, a place to market all locally grown fruits and vegetables, and Kiribati homemade handicrafts”.
Honourable Nauan added that “the selection of Betio the location is strategic knowing that island has the highest number of the population and is the main port for all inbound and outbound shipping vessels”.
Funded by the Government of Australia, the OIM will also serve foreign vessels who may wish to purchase any fruits and vegetables along with Kiribati homemade handicrafts. The construction of the OIM will foster the development of domestic trade and create more economic opportunities for the people of Kiribati, particularly at the grassroot level, especially women and youth.
The Tourism Authority of Kiribati recognises the value such a development will bring to improving visitor economy on South Tarawa especially for cruise tourism. The OIM will be a central location for local handicraft makers from all over Kiribati to sell their creations to international travellers.
This project is scheduled to be completed in 2025 and will cost AUD$6 million.
