A project for the construction of a Fisheries Research Center at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) was officially signed early this week.
The signing was held on September 16, 2024, at the conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade in Honiara.
The grant amount for this project is 511 million yen (SBD30m).
The grant aims to contribute to the development of the fisheries sector in Solomon Islands by enhancing the research capabilities of the Department of Fisheries at the National University, thereby supporting the country’s social development.
In his speech, Ambassador Miwa Yoshiaki remarked, “Japan and Solomon Islands are maritime nations where fisheries are a vital pillar of the economy and food supply. While emphasizing the importance of research cooperation between two countries, the Ambassador mentioned the visited to SINU made soon after arriving in the Solomon Islands to exchange opinions on cooperation for fisheries.”
He also mentioned the site visit to fishing communities in the West Guadalcanal area and the Tiaro Bay with SINU researchers and others to learn about the actual situation of fisheries in Solomon Islands.
Ambassador continued to state “Over 80% of the Solomon Islands’ population lives in coastal farming communities relying heavily on subsistence agriculture and fishing for food and income.”
The establishment of Fisheries Research Center at SINU is expected to contribute to the empowerment of these communities by promoting the sustainable costal fisheries as well as the production of processed and value-added marine products. He concluded saying; “we strongly hope that the institute will contribute to the development of Solomon fisheries from a long-term strategic perspective.”
Following this, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Chanel Agovaka expressed his gratitude for attending the signing ceremony and stated,
“We sincerely appreciate the support from the Government of Japan. This project represents an investment in research and innovation to address challenges such as climate change, overfishing, and environmental degradation.
“Through the construction of the facility and training, we aim to build a more resilient fisheries sector and bring hope to future students, researchers, and local communities.”
He also expressed appreciation for the contributions of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development and SINU, stating,
“This centre will elevate the educational standards of our National University and provide high-quality training to our local people.
“This project signifies the strengthening of our long-term partnership with Japan. We thank the Japanese Embassy and pledge our continued cooperation.”
The signing was conducted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka.
