CONSTRUCTION work on the Honiara International Airport project is progressing well.
During a site visit, Tuesday, the project manager Takeshi Iwasaki said for now the focus of the work is on the international terminal building.
This is the new departure terminal and on the existing terminal which will be used as an arrival terminal after its completion.
He said the $348 million project funded by the Japanese Government is expected to complete by early 2022.
Upon its completion it will be handed over to the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, which is the implementing agency.
“The work progress is going really well despite the eight months delay we experienced last year,” he said.
Representative of JICA Solomon Islands Office, Motoyuki Uegaki said the project has just turned the half-mark point. Some more unpredictable issues might be rising on the rest of way to completion.
However, he said with a firm collaboration and teamwork of Solomon Islands and Japan, they can overcome the difficulties and challenges.
“For that, I expect an even stronger effort from the main project execution body MCA, Gyros, and Kitano Construction Corporation. Of course, JICA in cooperation with Japan Embassy will be happy to render support for smooth implementation of the project,” he said.
The Kitano Construction has a long history of engagement in the infrastructure development of the Solomon Islands.
They have had involved in the construction of a great number of major infrastructure projects that you can see around Honiara and in the places like Guadalcanal, Gizo and Malaita. Also, aside from the current Airport Project, they are also undertaking the execution of Kukum Phase 2 Road Project under the Japan Grant Aid Project.
By FOLLET JOHN
Newsroom, Honiara
