THE Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) is actively seeking donor partners to bring the ambitious Bina Harbor Project to fruition, a milestone project that will see the construction of an international seaport and a state-of-the-art tuna processing facility.
During Wednesday’s roundtable dialogue between Solomon Islands Government and the country’s development partners at the Heritage Park Hotel, Deputy Secretary of Corporate Services of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), Patterson Lusi highlighted the potential benefits of the Bina Harbor Project.
Mr Lusi emphasized that realizing the project’s full potential would significantly enhance job creation and stimulate economic activities for the people of Malaita and the nation as a whole.
He said currently, Solomon Islands harvests approximately 90,000 metric tons of tuna annually but pointed out that the existing Noro Tuna Factory processes only 30,000 tons, while the remaining 60,000 tons being exported to Thailand and other destinations.
“If the Bina Harbor Project is completed with the support of our donor partners, we could process the full 60,000 tons domestically rather than exporting it,” Mr Lusi said.
Mr Lusi’s comment underscored the strategic importance of the project in maximizing the value derived from the nation’s tuna resources.
“Solomon Islands tuna industry is a crucial sector, contributing about 10 percent of government revenue through fishing access fees.
“By developing local processing capabilities, the Bina Harbor Project aims to capture more of the tuna value chain within the country,” he added
GNUT’s push for the Bina Harbor Project reflects a broader goal of leveraging the nation’s fishery resources to boost economic development and enhance local benefits.
It believes that the engagement of development partners will be pivotal in turning this vision into reality.
Development partners, including the People’s Republic of China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank have expressed their interest in supporting GNUT’s efforts.
These donor partners have expressed commitment to support the Solomon Islands National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2035, which outlines the country’s overarching development goals and aspirations.
Meanwhile, New Zealand recently offered $420 million towards the Bina Harbor Project.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Honiara
