[Published on Saturday, March 28, 2026]
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Makira Ulawa province is on the process to establish a sister-province relationship with East Sepik Province in Papua New Guinea.
The proposed partnership is driven by agricultural objectives, particularly to strengthen Makira Ulawa’s cocoa industry and explore opportunities to introduce and develop East Sepik’s vanilla industry within the province.
Speaking at a recent provincial assembly meeting in Kirakira, Makira Ulawa Premier Stanley Siapu announced the initiative, describing it as a significant step forward for the province.
“Work is progressing on a potential sister relationship between our province and East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea.
“This undertaking is specifically aimed at strengthening our cocoa industry and exploring opportunities to bring East Sepik’s robust vanilla industry into our province,” he said.
Premier Siapu confirmed that formal diplomatic correspondence has already been made with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Honiara, as well as with Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Affairs authorities.
Meanwhile, he said efforts to finalise a separate sister-province relationship between Makira Ulawa and Guizhou province of China are ongoing.
He said the partnership with Guizhou has already delivered positive results, including the donation of two boats that are currently being shipped to Honiara.
“We are in close liaison with PRC officials in Honiara, and we expect to enter into a formal agreement as soon as possible,” he said.
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