The World Bank is financing over $50 million of the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project.
The new infrastructure includes improvements to Honiara International Airport and Munda Airport as well as upgrading the maintenance of the entire main road network in Malaita Province.
“Safe, secure and well-maintained airports and roads are essential to the economic and social development of Solomon Islands,” said Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, Solomon Islands care-taker minister for finance and treasury.
“This significant investment from the World Bank into the country’s infrastructure will be vital to the Solomon Islands’ economic development.”
The aviation investment includes new communications and navigation equipment, and updated runway overlays at both airports.
Honiara International Airport - the country’s key international airport - will also receive new airfield lighting, and automatic weather observation systems.
Construction at Munda Airport includes the building of a new terminal and new cargo facilities with an integrated flight service tower.
The road upgrade will see 232-kilometre in Malaita improved to be more climate resilient, including the resealing of 17 kilometres of sealed roads, the upgrading of four bridges, improvement of vulnerable spots and routine maintenance support.
“A major infrastructure commitment such as this is far more than bricks, mortar and bitumen,” said Michel Kerf, country director for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, World Bank.
“This is an investment in the Solomon Islands that will have positive impacts across countless sectors: tourism, education, manufacturing, resources and health to name a few.
