BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Solomon Islands Office has said it looks forward to the full utilisation of resources provided under Japan’s Project for Economic and Social Development Programme.
Resident Representative of JICA Solomon Islands Office, Kawasaki Mitsuyoshi emphasised this at the signing of the Exchange of Notes and Grant Agreement for the Project for Economic and Social Development Programme on Wednesday this week.
Under the project, the Japanese Government has invested 330 million Japanese Yen (approximately 17 million Solomon Islands Dollars) for the Ministry of Forestry and Research, and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology.
This support will enable Japan to provide essential heavy machinery, including bulldozers, backhoe loaders, and dump trucks valued at 147 million Japanese Yen to address waste management under MECDM and an additional 50 sawmills, valued at 183 million Yen, to the Ministry of Forestry and Research.
Delivering his remarks, Mr Kawasaki said this achievement reflects the strong and enduring partnership between JICA and the Government of Solomon Islands.
He said this project is not only about developing economic resources and sustainable forest and solid waste management, but is also about deepening bilateral relations between Solomon Islands and Japan.
“We believe that the resources provided will be fully utilised and achieve the mandate expected from the Solomon Islands government. The Grant aid will assist in terms of sustainable harvesting of forestry, and to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECCDM), the grant aid will support the issue of waste management both in Honiara and Auki,” Kawasaki said.
He said the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016–2035 emphasises the need to promote resilient and environmentally sustainable development, which falls under “NDS Objective 4”.
He said this grant will undoubtedly contribute to achieving that goal by ensuring sustainable harvest of forestry and management of solid waste.
“I reaffirm our commitment to working closely with the Government of Solomon Islands and our partners to achieve SDG Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss and SDG Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable,” Kawasaki said.
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