BY JUNELYN KELLY
The Western provincial government has said China’s donation of 40 outboard motors (OBM) will ‘enhance service delivery across the province’.
Western Province received 40 OBMs from Fujian Province, China, in a handover ceremony held on Wednesday this week.
The donation marks a significant milestone in the growing relationship between the two provinces, following the establishment of their sister-province partnership in 2023.
The assistance comes after discussions on how Fujian Province could best support Western Province in improving service delivery.
With its predominantly maritime geography—stretching from Ngatokae in the east to the Shortland Islands in the west and covering approximately 5,475 square kilometres—the province relies heavily on sea transport.
Deputy Premier of Western Province, Brian Lotikena, speaking on behalf of the Premier, the Executive Government, and the people of Western Province, expressed sincere gratitude for the generous support.
He said the donation as a “very kind gesture” that will greatly enhance service delivery across the province, particularly in remote island communities.
Lotikena also highlighted the need to develop policies and frameworks to support pre-service scholarships, particularly in technical fields such as information and communication technology and engineering.
“As a province, we see this as a pathway to empowering our human resources to better address current challenges and improve economic and livelihood outcomes,” he said.
He added that the outboard motors will significantly improve access to services across key sectors, given the province’s island-based setting.
Lotikena said the donation is expected to strengthen private sector activities and enhance people-to-people engagement, contributing to economic development in Western Province.
Photo credit: Junelyn Kelly
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