A ground breaking ceremony to formalise the commencement of the SBD$190 million international sea port at the Solomon Islands Ports Authority will be held today.
Funded by the government of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) it will officially launch by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Japan Ambassador His Excellency Kenichi Kimiya.
The two years project will be constructed by Kitano Construction Joint Venture and Toa Cooperation facilitated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and implemented by the Ports Authority.
Director Engineering of Ports Authority Ronald Ivupitu said, the ground breaking was to formalise and mark the commencement of the project between the government of Solomon Islands and Japan.
He said, the actual work on the project had already started since October 2014 and is expected to complete by September 2016.
Mr Ivupitu said, the international seaport covers 150 meter long and 180 meter depth that can cater for large cargo and cruise ship.
He said, the project once it is completed will ease the congestion of calling ships, improve the strength of trade in the country, expand container yard, increase the stacking capacity of containers and enable them to handle volume efficiently.
He said, the new wharf will be enough to facilitate the congestion of calling ships and significantly reduce a berth waiting time of ships to almost zero.
There is no doubt that the completion of the project will boost Honiara as one of the busy hubs in the region and will contribute to activate the economy of Solomon Islands.
By CHARLES KADAMANA
