BY JARED KOLI
THE Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) has submitted a request for the second phase of Kukum Highway upgrade project.
MID Acting Permanent Secretary Jimmy Nuake confirmed to Island Sun that the request was submitted to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) office in Honiara.
“The usual process for requesting Japanese grant aid is to send the request through the JICA Solomon Islands office, Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japanese Embassy.
“MID has submitted a request for the second phase of the Kukum Highway Project to the JICA office in Solomon Islands,” Mr Nuake said when responding to an email query by this paper.
He said it is expected that the Prime Minister (PM) will further reinforce this request with his counterpart, the PM of Japan, at the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM-8) in Japan in May this year.
Nuake said the second phase proposal covered the rehabilitation of the main road from where the current project ends, which is Fishing Village to Henderson airport and from Central Market to White River.
“Government of Japan has been consulted through JICA office in Solomon Islands, but it is up to the Government of Japan whether or not to accept the proposal,” he clarifies.
He said the current Kukum Highway road upgrade is expected to be completed by November 30, 2018.
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