Press Releases
Signing and Exchange of Notes Concerning Grant Aid to Solomon Islands: “the Economic and Social Development Programme”
On January 14, in Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands, Mr. MARUO Katsumasa, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of Japan to Solomon Islands, and Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands, signed and exchanged notes for “the Economic and Social Development Programme” (project up to total of 330 million yen).
- Installation of Waste Management Equipment (up to 147 million yen)
In Solomon Islands, waste management has become a serious social issue due to the insufficient capacity to cope with the increasing volume and diversity of waste resulting from the rapid modernization of lifestyles. From the perspective of environmental risk and the promotion of sustainable development, it is an urgent task to install appropriate waste management equipment and promote the steady implementation of waste management plans. This project aims to strengthen waste management capacity by providing the Solomon Islands government with waste management equipment such as bulldozers and backhoe loaders. - Installation of Simple Timber Sawmill (up to 183 million yen)
The Solomon Islands is a country where approximately 90% of the land is covered by forests, and forestry is a major industry accounting for about 47% of total exports; however, deforestation due to large-scale logging is an issue. In addition, since the majority of exports consist of unprocessed timber, there is little return to community residents who are the forest owners. In light of this situation, the Solomon Islands government is working on nationwide sustainable forest resource management, including promoting the perspective of industrial development. By providing the Solomon Islands government with simple timber sawmills, this project aims to promote the production of processed timber, thereby enhancing the sustainable use of forest resources and improving the livelihoods of forestry workers. - In the “Leaders Declaration” and the “Joint Action Plan” issued at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) held in July, 2024, Japan announced “Resources and Economic development" and “Ocean and Environment” as priority areas of Japan’s cooperation, and this cooperation embodies the Plan.
(Reference1) Basic Data on Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands has an area of 28,900 square kilometers, a population of 819,198 (World Bank, 2024), and a gross national income (GNI) per capita of US$2,080 (World Bank, 2024)
(Reference2) 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10)
On July 16 to July 18 the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) was co-chaired by former Prime Minister KISHIDA and Prime Minister 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 organizations including Japan, 14 Pacific Island countries, two French overseas collectivities, Australia, and New Zealand, and the chair of the PIF. Prime Minister Jeremiah MANELE represented Solomon Islands.
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 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.