PRIME Minister Rick Hou has held bilateral talks with Norway’s International Development Minister Hon Nikolai Astrup at the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit in Nauru this week.
During the meeting, Mr Hou acknowledged Norway for its significant contribution towards addressing climate change through the Green Climate Fund.
Norway is one of the largest contributors to the Green Climate Fund sponsoring over USD$270 million over four years.
Solomon Islands has benefited from the fund through the Tina Hydro Project, which Mr Hou has described as an important project that is expected to reduce electricity costs in the country.
Apart from climate change, Prime Minister Hou also highlighted other areas of interest to Solomon Islands regarding fisheries, maritime policing, training opportunities and education scholarships.
Meanwhile, Minister Astrup said Norway is keen in assisting in the areas of renewable energy, fisheries, and climate change through multi-lateral means and signaled Norway’s interest in sharing its experience with Solomon Islands to address issues regarding ocean resources, over fishing and plastic pollution in the oceans.
PM Hou will also hold other bilateral meetings during the week; notably, with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Patricia Scotland and the Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters.
He is also scheduled to hold talks with other leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, and other Forum partners including the Secretary of the Interior of the United States of America.
The 49th PIF Leaders was officially opened on Monday this week.
The Prime Minister’s delegation is expected back in the country at the end of this week.
–GCU
