PRIME Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele has highlighted the importance of his overseas trips since he took office on May 2 and one of those overseas trips was to Japan during which he expressed Solomon Islands interest in exploring a multilateral cooperation for the development of the Bina Habor Project in Malaita Province.
Prime Minister Manele went to Tokyo in July for the 10th Pacific Allies Leaders Meeting (PALM10), a platform for the discussion of issues to do with the cooperative relations between Japan and its Pacific ally countries. At the margins of the meeting, the PM had bilateral discussions with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and leaders of other bilateral partners of Solomon Islands.
PM Manele highlighted the importance of his overseas trips in Parliament yesterday in response to a question raised by the Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale on the benefits of the PM’s overseas trips to the country.
The PM’s trip to Japan was the third overseas trip Manele took in his capacity as Prime Minister. The first trip was to Australia and the second to the People’s Republic of China.
Elaborating on his trip to Japan, PM Manele said his attendance of PALM 10 also gave him the opportunity to express Solomon Islands interest to Japan in exploring a multilateral cooperation for the development of the Bina Habor Project.
“Mr Speaker Sir, in the case of my attendance at the Japan Pacific Leaders Meeting, the [Pacific Islands] Forum Leaders were happy with Japan’s commitment to continue supporting the region’s priorities at the regional and bilateral levels.
“We know that Japan is a major infrastructure partner to Solomon Islands and I took the opportunity in my meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister Honorable Fumio Kishida not only to express our gratitude for Japan’s support over the years but also to express our interest in exploring a multilateral cooperation in the development of the Bina Harbor project, which is a national priority project in Malaita Province and of course Solomon Islands.”
PM Manele said the trip to Japan also saw the signing of the SBD 120-million-dollar engagement contract between the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), Kitano Construction and the Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) for the improvement of the Kiluufi Hospital Project.
He said the contract signing was another significant achievement from bilaterial engagements at the margins of the PALM 10, adding that the project will benefit Solomon Islands and in particular, the people of Malaita Province.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Auki
