By Loretta B Manele
Australia is redoubling its efforts in infrastructure projects in Solomon Islands.
Rod Hilton, Australia’s high commissioner said he is pleased to say that Australia is redoubling its efforts to make sure that more infrastructure projects go to Solomon Islands’ companies.
Hilton raised this when he spoke at the “Women in Infrastructure” Breakfast Forum last week.
He said for them, success in their infrastructure partnership with Solomon Islands is not just what they build but in how they build it.
He expressed that they see success as having more Solomon Island companies building infrastructure.
“We see success as having more skilled workers here in Solomon Islands part of that building effort. And we definitely see success as having more Solomon Island local jobs as part of that effort. Locally led development just makes sense.”
He stated that it is about infrastructure and its ongoing maintenance, but it is also about economic growth and jobs.
Hilton said Australia has been working with local companies for the last three years.
Under this partnership, he added that they have delivered training and mentoring to local suppliers and contractors, big to small, so that they are ready to manage and deliver infrastructure to a high standard.
In relation, Hilton said they have recently announced 500 TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) scholarships for Solomon Islanders which will support 10 rural training centres here in Solomon Islands to deliver practical skills to young people, including women.
He also mentioned that their infrastructure program and the Australia Pacific Training College together with the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) have also taken nearly 40 young women through women-only construction and solar power certification programs.
To top that off, Hilton said last week, he was honoured to announce Australia’s newest investment which is a $49 million investment to strengthen women’s leadership, economic empowerment and to end violence against women over the next three years.
He said through these initiatives, they are bringing more local economic development, more skilled workers and more jobs to deliver on what communities and the government need.
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