AUSTRALIA’S Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator Marise Payne arrives here today to take forward initiatives under Australia’s Pacific Step-up and reaffirm Australia’s longstanding commitment to Solomon Islands.
This will be Minister Payne’s second visit to Solomon Islands in less than a year. It follows her two-day visit to Honiara in February.
During her visit, Minister Payne will meet with Prime Minister the Hon Manasseh Sogavare and Foreign Minister the Jeremiah Manele to discuss our progress together on security, infrastructure and labour mobility.
Minister Payne will visit the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Solomon Islands to review their important work empowering at-risk girls.
She will also meet with the Wake Mere Commitment to Action Group with women leaders from across government and the private sector.
On Thursday Minister Payne will travel on to Vanuatu, where she will visit Port Vila and Luganville on the island of Espirito Santo.
This visit will provide an opportunity to reiterate Australia’s commitment to supporting security, stability and prosperity in the Pacific.
