BY LORETTA B. MANELE
The country’s aviation industry will benefit greatly from its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), China.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka spoke on this in parliament.
The MOU was signed during Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele’s recent visit to China.
Agovaka told parliament that they signed 13 MOUs during the visit and one of these MOUs is the MOU regarding the aviation sector.
He said the MOU is between the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Solomon Islands’ Ministry of Communications and Aviation (MCA).
Agovaka said this agreement will enable MCA to exchange views, best practices, share information, expertise and knowledge with PRC’s civil aviation authority.
The Central Guadalcanal MP stressed that this will further benefit the country’s aviation industry as it plays a vital role in connectivity and trade.
On another note, he said there is also interest from Solomon Airlines to acquire a plane from China.
Agovaka said the plane, a Y12F aircraft is capable of cooperating to all 22 domestic airstrips in the country without fuel stops while carrying a full capacity of cargo in comparison to our twin otter that can only carry limited cargo and requires to be fuelled up.
“This will greatly enhance the movement of our people and cargo to all the provinces.”
