By Alfred Sasako
SOLOMON Islands and Taiwan have sealed their intent to strengthen ties in the maritime industry, Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) Chief Executive Officer, Eranda Kotelawala, has announced.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the matter was signed between SIPA and its Taiwan counterpart, the Maritime and Port Bureau in Taipei two weeks ago.
The signing paved the way for training, trade and a host of other maritime-related activities between the two island nations.
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela witnessed the signing which took place during his visit to Taipei last month.
SIPA’s Kotelawala told Island Sun yesterd
the scope of cooperation outlined in the MOU would enhance on-going activities in maritime cooperation between the two government-owned entities.
SIPA had already entered a separate cooperation agreement with the port city of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.
The latest MOU on maritime cooperation is between the Maritime and Port Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Solomon Islands Ports Authority, Ministry of Infrastructure Development (SIPA).
- Improvement in cooperation between the parties in the spheres of training, development of human resources and commercial port operation;
- Encourages shipping lines to establish trade routes between Taiwan and Solomon Islands;
- Promotes trade facilitation, and strengthen the ties between the Parties; and
- Participate in the activities of common approach to international organisations and maritime related associations,
The MoU between the two parties was signed in Taipei, Taiwan on May 24, 2018. It was designed to strengthen ties between the two countries in their collaborations in different spheres in the maritime industry.
Kotelawala said the signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Houenipwela and ROC’S Deputy Foreign Minister Hon François Chih-Chung Wu.
