Press Releases
Grant Assistance to Solomon Islands: Signing and Exchange of Notes on “the Project for Nutrition Improvement through the School Meals in Isabel and Western Provinces”
On February 28, in Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands H.E. Mr. Keiichi Higuchi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Solomon Islands, and Mr. Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF Representative for Pacific Island Countries, signed and exchanged notes for "the Project for Nutrition Improvement through the School Meals in Isabel and Western Provinces " (project up to five hundred and thirteen million yen).
- In Solomon Islands, child malnutrition such as (1) chronic and acute malnutrition, (2) micronutrient deficiencies such as anemia, and (3) obesity (overnutrition) is becoming significantly serious issues.
- In collaboration with UNICEF, this project aims to establish sustainable and nutritious meal supply system and improve nutritional status of the school-age children in target boarding schools and surrounding communities on two islands, Isabelle and Western Provinces, through provision of nutritious school meals and promotion of local agriculture as well as improvement of water and sanitation management. It is thereby expected to contribute to a virtuous cycle of building self-sustained and sustainable food supply and well-being of the population in Solomon Islands.
- In the “Leaders Declaration” and the "Joint Action Plan" issued at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held on July 18, 2024, Japan announced, “Peace and Security” and “Technology and Connectivity” as the priority areas of cooperation, and this project embodies the Plan.
Solomon Islands has an area of 28,900 square kilometers, a population of 800,000 (World Bank, 2023), and a gross national income (GNI) per capita of US$2,270 (World Bank, 2023).
On July 18, 2024, the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was co-chaired by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and Prime Minister Mark BROWN of the Cook Islands, the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The Meeting was attended by the leaders and representatives of 19 countries, regions and regional organization including Japan, 14 Pacific Island countries, two French overseas collectivities, Australia, and New Zealand, and the chair of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). From Solomon Islands, Prime Minister Manele attended.
The Government of Japan announced Japan’s commitment to continue its robust development assistance and support for more than 6,500 people-to-people exchanges as well as human resource development over the next three years based on the seven priority areas of cooperation which are in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent or “2050 Strategy" of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): (1) Political Leadership and Regionalism, (2) People-centered Development, (3) Peace and Security, (4) Resources and Economic Development, (5) Climate Change and Disasters, (6) Ocean and Environment, (7) Technology and Connectivity.