The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) begins constructing the Munda International Airport Terminal Building after a ground-breaking ceremony on Friday.

The new terminal building will be constructed at a cost of approximately USD7 million funded the World Bank under and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation under the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP). The procurement process strictly adhered to the World Banks’ Procurement Regulations.

In 2019, the government obtained financial resources from the World Bank to implement roads and aviation projects under SIRAP and Munda terminal building and Munda airport overlay made the list to be implemented under the project.

The Munda new Terminal Building was procured and awarded to CCECC in 2020 as a Design and Build Project.

CCECC mobilised to Munda in early 2022 and established on site and completed preliminary works including site preparation.

“The construction proper is starting and so this ground-breaking ceremony marks this milestone,” Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka said during the ceremony in Munda.

Hon. Agovaka who is the Minister of Communication and Aviation led a high-level delegation to officiate the ground-breaking.

“The modern design employs an integrated terminal building serving both international and domestic movements simultaneously thereby maximizing space and optimizing operations within the terminal,” he said.

The new Munda International Airport Terminal is scheduled to be completed by June 2023.

The other component of the project is to overlay the existing Munda airport runway, the apron parking areas and taxiway to 50mm with asphalt material that will add to safety and durability of pavement life to support aircraft operation to the airport. China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has been awarded to implement this component worth approximately USD 15 million and scheduled for completion by May 2023.

Minister Agovaka said the ground-breaking ceremony was a culmination of an achievement forged through partnerships built over the years with local landowning groups, Western Provincial Government, and donor partners.

He acknowledged the Dunde Vetu Bangara landowning group and the United Church of Solomon Islands who severed their land to contribute to the development of the airport.

He also thanked CCECC for showing interest to bid and winning the contract to deliver the new terminal and the World Bank for the funding assistance.

The ground-breaking ceremony marked the continued transformation of Munda airport. In 2012, the New Zealand Government and Solomon Islands Government implemented the Munda Airport Upgrading Project phase I and II to upgrade Munda airport to an alternate international Airport. The upgrade was part of the government’s programme through the Ministry of Communication and Aviation to improve safety, promote tourism and business development in Western Province.

Solomon Airlines operates weekly flights from Brisbane to Munda but has suspended the service as a measure taken by the Solomon Islands Government to manage entry of COVID-19 to the country since early 2020.

However, international flights to Munda are expected to resume when the new terminal completes around June 2023.

ENDS///

Source: SIRAP Communication

The completion of the Munda International Airport Terminal will boost the tourism sector says the Minister of Communication and Aviation (MCA) Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka.

He was speaking during a ground-breaking ceremony in Munda on Friday to begin the construction of the new multi-million-dollar terminal.

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) will begin the construction of the new terminal after it won the bid in 2020 for approximately USD7 million with funding assistance from World Bank through the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (ISIRAP).

“The upgrade of facilities will bring more business opportunities including increased activities in the tourism sector,” Minister Agovaka said.

He added that it is a proud moment for the populous in Munda to host such a fine and modern piece of airport infrastructure only the second of such in the country

“It is also a proud moment for Western Province as hosts for the important infrastructure and we do acknowledge the original landowners for that matter.”

He said upgrade of the Munda Airport in the past years was part of the government’s programme through MCA to improve safety, promote tourism and business development especially in Western Province

Minister Agovaka said the aviation sector is moving in the right direction with 80% of national airports upgraded in driving the government policy of providing access and connectivity for citizens for both domestic and international connection to enable business and trade to grow in a safe environment.

“To my good people of Munda please respect such infrastructures and utilize the business opportunities presented because of these upgrades to facilities.”

CCECC Country Manager Huang Pengfei said the Munda International Airport Terminal Building project is of great significance to Solomon Islands and Western Province’s foreign exchanges and economic development.

He said CCECC will strictly follow the instructions of the Employer and the Engineer, standardize the construction, contribute the wisdom, diligence and sweat of CCECC, and show the spiritual outlook and social responsibility of CCECC.

“We believe that with the care and support of the Solomon Islands Government and Western Province Government, and the care and help of people, we will work closely with the Employer and Engineer to complete the Munda International Airport terminal building project successfully on the premise of ensuring the quality of the project.

“We will continue to establish the reputation and brand of CCECC and make our great efforts and contributions to the infrastructure construction of Solomon Islands,” Mr. Pengfei added.

Amongst those who witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony were Minister of Finance and Treasury Hon. Harry Kuma, Minister of Justice, and Legal Affairs Hon. Clezy Rore and Member of Parliament for West New Georgia-Vona Vona Hon. Silas Tausinga.

ENDS///

Source: SIRAP Communication

From: The Minister, Hon Peter Shanel Agovaka, MP, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Moses Virivolomo, Director and staff of  CAASI and staff of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation

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THE Solomon Islands National Financial Inclusion Strategy 3 (NFIS 3), 2021-2035 is an important roadmap to guide the nationally driven efforts to improve access to financial services in the Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare stated this during the launching of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 3 in Honiara recently.

The launching also formally recognized NFIS 3 as a national strategy to drive the next phase of financial inclusion in Solomon Islands.

The Prime Minister said the strategy draws on lessons of past national financial inclusion strategies with a clear mission and robust framework.

This he said, is to achieve its overarching vision, which is to ensure all Solomon Islanders have access to a range of quality and affordable financial services and products and be competent to use them to increase their resilience and improved livelihood within the growing digital economy.

“The Solomon Islands Government recognizes the importance of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 3 as a national roadmap for improving financial access for all Solomon Islanders,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said the National Government is supportive of this strategy, as it will also help to improve the economic livelihoods of women, youth and those in the informal sector.

The Prime Minister said the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 3 will also complement the nationally driven efforts of the Solomon Islands Government, through the National Development Strategy 2016-2035, which endeavours to achieve inclusive economic growth by improving the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders.

“The Solomon Islands Government wishes to congratulate the Central Bank of Solomon Islands for continuing to champion financial inclusion in Solomon Islands and all stakeholders including donor and development partners that collaborated to drive financial inclusion in Solomon Islands,” he said.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged the Australian Government for their support towards financial inclusion initiatives in the Solomon Islands, and the continuous technical assistance rendered by the United Nations Capital Development Fund.

Source: GCU Press