Machines for the construction of the Auki road are now en route to the project site. The Chinese contractor, Civil China Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), has sent its road construction machines ahead to begin the project, which will transform Auki Township.
The road improvement project in Auki was a flagship policy of the previous government, the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA), and is being carried forward by the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT).
This year, a series of agreements were signed between the governments of the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), culminating in the rollout of road construction machines now in Auki.
The road improvement project in Auki is vital for the government to provide the people of Malaita with access to quality road infrastructure.
The project is funded by the government of the People’s Republic of China in response to a request from the Solomon Islands government.
Another road project in Malaita Province is the South Road, a vital connection for the communities of South Malaita.
The South Road will be upgraded with funding from the Australian government, which has allocated SBD 70 million for the project.
Road infrastructure in Malaita Province is crucial for supporting the government’s ambitious plan to launch the Bina Harbor project, with geo-technical work already underway at the site.
The GNUT has consistently maintained that the country’s challenges are broad, making it essential to have all development partners on board. Furthermore, no single partner can address all of the nation’s development needs.
The GNUT’s policy focuses on strengthening and developing the productive sector, including fisheries, cocoa, copra, mining, logging, and other industries. The rationale behind this policy is to foster a vibrant productive sector that supports the social sector.
The government has only been in power for eight months, yet there are promising signs of a positive future, given the achievements made so far.
END
-Press release by OPMC
Photos- PRC Embassy in Honiara
