THE Far North is poised to strengthen ties with the autonomous region of Bougainville after talks between its President James Tanis and industry leaders in Cairns.

The former guerilla fighter, who was elected president in December last year, was in the Far North to strengthen ties with the region and yesterday held talks with Advance Cairns, Study Cairns and the Cairns Chamber of Commerce.

He also visited Jaques Coffee and the Ragato banana farm on the Tableland and today he will meet Cairns City Council representatives.

Mr Tanis said Bougainville used to have a flourishing coffee industry and he had wanted to visit a coffee and banana farm because of the potential to re-establish these industries.

"My visit is about establishing relationships," Mr Tanis told The Cairns Post. "I never promised I would bring money when I was elected as president, I said I would build relationships."

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith invited Mr Tanis to Australia as part of the Federal Government's Special Visits Program.

Advance Cairns chief executive Ross Contarino said the visit was predominantly a relationship-building exercise for a region on the upside of a political recovery following years of instability.

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