Entire $170 Million grant from China to pay for cost of infrastructure projects in Malaita, including Auki Road tar-sealing
THE SUCCESS of the Malaita Provincial Government’s Fundamental Redirection Policy appears to have been rewarded with a massive injection of $170 million in grants for infrastructure development.
And there is more to come as Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele’s Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) turns its attention to infrastructure development on Malaita, the nation’s most populous Province.
Other provinces also stand to benefit from China’s generosity through sister city relations, although details are not immediately available.
The $170 million in budgetary support from Beijing was announced during the July visit to China by Prime Minister Manele and his delegation. It was meant for the national government.
However, Cabinet is believed to have decided last week to offload the entire grant of $170 million on Malaita to pay for the cost of on-going infrastructure projects, including the cost of tar-sealing of the Auki Township Road.
Former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare whose government established the Malaita Economic Development Initiative, MEDI for short – was particularly supportive of rewarding Malaita with China’s $170 million funding for the success of the Malaita Provincial government’s Fundamental Redirection Policy, according to insiders.
Malaita Premier Elijah Asilaua is reportedly pushing to re-engage the MEDI Team of professional consultants to translate its new policy document. He wants to launch the new policy on August 15 – Malaita’s 2nd Appointed Day – in Auki.
“No one else has the capacity to produce the document in the 11th hour in the same way the MEDI Team did in their last assignment for the Martin Fini’s Malaita New Government for Fundamental Redirection [MNGFR], Premier Asilaua was quoted as saying.
“I want the MEDI Team to start where they left off,” he reportedly told recent discussions.
Two other major infrastructure projects – the Auki-Atori Road and the Afio road in Small Malaita – are under active consideration, Government sources told Solomon Star.
In the northeast, land owners have offered their land to host Solomon Islands’ third international airport as well as the third international Seaport at Fokanakafo in the hope of opening up the northeast corridor for economic and infrastructure development.
Ground work has begun on the proposed two international entries – the David Sling International Airport and the Dioro Royal International Seaport – at Fokanakafo in east Fataleka.
Premier Elijah Asilaua described Cabinet’s decision to offload the grants on Malaita as “great news”. Details of how the funds will be used is unclear.
Premier Asilaua last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] to establish the province-to-province relationship with China’s Jiangsu Province
With a population of 80 million people, Jiangsu accounts for 10 per cent of China’s total economy. The relationship creates potential trade opportunities for Malaita Province as well as the rest of Solomon Islands.
The GDP for Jiangsu Province exceeded EURO 1.33 trillion in 2020 and has long been ranked second in China. It has the highest GDP per capita, according to published figures.
China is also supporting the Isabel Provincial government with a speed craft to address transport difficulties faced by the provincial government especially when they are needed to attend to urgent matters in Honiara.
It is unclear when the speedy craft, with seating capacity of 20 people, will arrive.
By Alfred Sasako
