A NEW three-year Solomon Islands-Australia Aid Partnership was sealed on Thursday in Honiara.
Both the Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and the Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination Danny Philip signed the deal.
A statement from the Australian High Commission Office said, 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 AUD 17 million for the Tina River Hydropower Development Project.
Once confirmed, this project will attract USD 240 million in investment for a major national asset.
It will stimulate economic growth by providing cheaper and more reliable electricity for Solomon Islands 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 is visiting Solomon Islands this week 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 learned from RAMSI’s success.
By AATAI JOHN
