REAFFIRMATION OF COMMITMENT POST RAMSI

-
Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Solomon Islands Minister for Development Planning and Aid Co-ordination Danny Philip has signed a new Solomon Islands-Australia Aid Partnership.  

The Partnership sets out the Solomon Islands and Australian Governments shared vision for cooperation over the next three years to improve people's lives.  It will focus on stimulating economic growth, improving health, education and gender equality outcomes and supporting ongoing stability.

"Australia is committed to build on the success of RAMSI", Minister Fierravanti-Wells said, "through our long-standing development program, we will continue to support sustained. inclusive economic growth, stability and poverty reduction in Solomon Islands".

Under the Partnership, Minister Fierravanti-Wells announced that Australia has committed up to AUD17 million for the Tina River Hydropower Development Program.  Once confirmed, this project will attract USD240 million in investment for a major national asset.

It will stimulate economic growth by providing cheaper and more reliable electricity for Solomon Island businesses and households and by demonstrating that Solomon Islands is a viable investment destination.

"This new Aid Partnership is founded on mutual accountability", Minister Philip said, "Based on the achievement of performance benchmarks drawn from the Solomon Islands National Development Strategy".

Minister Fierravanti-Wells was in the Solomon Islands to join farewell celebrations for the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).  During her visit, Minister Fierravanti-Wells also met with other Leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum and local business leaders to share lessons learnt from RAMSI's success.

ENDS/////

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

VANUATU BIGGEST IMPORTER OF CANNED TUNA FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY GEORGINA KEKEA VANUATU is the biggest importer of canned tuna from Solomon Islands. National Fisheries Development (NFD) Limited Managing Director, Frank Wickham shared this information in a recent radio talkback show to mark World Tuna Day. Wickham says the biggest export destination for SolTuna’s canned tuna is Vanuatu. “Followed by Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the market is now open in New Zealand. There is a big move now to promote and market in New Zealand and Australia. We have containers going to Kiribati, Tuvalu with a few to Tonga and Marshall Islands. The biggest of them all is Vanuatu”, Wickham said. He says domestically the consumption of tuna is growing annually making Solomon  Islands one of the biggest canned tuna consumption per capita in the world. “Two years ago it was like more than 800,000 cartons a year. which means for every woman, man and child in the country, they consume one carton a year. So if you look at 48 tin cans in one carton, it is almost one can a wee
Read more

SMALL FISH IN BIG POND LAUNCHES WEBSITE

-
Image
By EDDIE OSIFELO NEW and upcoming accommodation establishment DD Holiday Inn at Mbumburu, West Honiara, launched its website yesterday as part of its marketing drive to get itself out to a wider audience. People can access the website on:   https://www.ddholidayinn.sb Owners of the Inn, John and Nester Deve, Strongim Bisnis Senior Advisor, James Mcgoon and journalists attending a one-week Economics of Tourism workshop witnessed the event.  John Deve and wife, Nester Deve T he Economics of Tourism workshop, which was jointly funded by PACMAS and Strongem Bisnis, was conducted at DD Holiday Inn’s magnificent, opened-side thatched conference room.   A private Information Technology (IT) company, Arietech, designed the website.   Deve, a former Police officer, told the small gathering the website was the culmination of many years of struggle as a indigenous businessman.    He said it was a long journey in life, which he sees as blessing. “I have been in few businesses,
Read more

HOW A TINY PROVINCE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS REACHES OUT TO AUSTRALIA

-
Image
THE small island province of Temotu in the far eastern part of Solomon Islands is one of the nation’s most prone natural hazard areas. The tsunami in 2013 swamped through 20 villages With an estimated population of less than 25,000, Temotu often has its bouts of natural disasters. In 2015, tropical cyclone Pam left devastating effects on the tiny province where people were affected from damages to their fruit trees, food gardens and agricultural crops. People near the coast were evacuated. Then again in 2017, TC Donna in its wake and formation also impacted badly on the people of Temotu. Not to mention it was only seven years ago a tsunami claimed lives of more than 10 people, swamped more than 20 villages forcing the government to declare a state of emergency over the Santa Cruz Islands. Remains of household in Venga village after 2013 tsunami (Photo supplied) Their most recent bout of disaster was in January 2019 where bad weather caused people to face food shortag
Read more