Honiara officials meet Korean counterparts in Seoul to discuss partnership on Bina Harbour Tuna Plant project.
Officials from Honiara met with Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and other stakeholders in Seoul last week to explore potential collaboration on the Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant project.
Dr. Christain Ramofafia, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources; Ronald Ivupitu, Chief Engineer of the Solomon Islands Ports Authority; and Fred Conning, Technical Services Coordinator for the Bina Harbour Project Office, travelled to Korea to attend a Port Expert Workshop. The event was organised by Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and hosted by the Korea Ports and Harbour Association.
Delegates from Vietnam also attended the workshop, which provided a platform to explore partnerships and strengthen cooperation in the fisheries and maritime industries. The hosts shared their experiences in port design, implementation, and financing. Participants also toured the Busan Port and nearby fishing port facilities of a scale similar to that envisioned for the Bina project.
Korean officials expressed interest in reviewing feasibility and other technical studies conducted by the Bina Harbour Project Office, with a view to possibly supporting the Solomon Islands with technical assistance and financing for enabling infrastructure for the tuna processing facility.
Dr. Ramofafia noted the longstanding relationship between Korea and the Solomon Islands in the fisheries sector.
“Korea is our largest fishing fleet customer, so we already have a strong economic partnership in the fisheries sector. We would welcome a partnership with Korea to construct Bina port facilities,” he said.
The Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant project is a Solomon Islands Government initiative led by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and is currently in the preparatory phase. Expert teams from the Bina Harbour Project Office are conducting site studies to inform the design and costing of land and maritime infrastructure and to secure funding for the construction phase.
Once completed, the plant in Bina will become the nation’s third export port and the first major investment in Malaita Province. It aims to generate employment and stimulate the local economy.
The Bina Harbour Project Office is funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with the International Finance Corporation serving as a transactional advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
SOURCE: Ministry Of Fisheries
