PRIME Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele’s has three remaining international travel commitments for this year.
The PM announced this at a press conference in Honiara on Saturday.
The two international travel commitments are to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia from September 28 to October and to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from October 21 to 26.
He said Solomon Islands enjoys rapidly strengthened bilateral relations with the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“In Abu Dhabi, I will formally open our newest overseas embassy. I will also have high level engagements with authorities in Abu Dhabi.
“Discussions will cover among other things the strengthening of partnerships and enhancing investments in Solomon Islands including in areas such as transformative infrastructure investments, including in the tourism sector as well as the proposed or the upcoming special economic zones in the area of renewable energy. As we all know, Abu Dhabi is the host of the IRENA – that is the International Renewable Energy Agency.
“In Riyadh, we will sign a reciprocal agreement with Saudi Arabia covering diplomatic and official passports, this will facilitate travel and entry by holders of diplomatic and official passports from both countries.
“I will also have high level meetings with authorities in Riyadh exploring new areas of partnership including again the area of transformative infrastructure investments in terms of airports, seaports, roads as well as in the hospitality industry or portals and so as investments in renewable energy – one of the key priorities of the government.
“We will also be discussing or looking at the innovative financing model or modalities or to support our transformational development agenda.
“The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has demonstrated over a short period of time its genuine interest to work with and to help Solomon Islands to grow and achieve our development objectives through a mutually strengthening and beneficial cooperation between our two countries,” the PM said.
PM Manele said the Government of National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) has a transformational development agenda and to achieve this objective, it needs to establish, strengthen and consolidate transformational partnerships and corporations with strategic partners who help the country achieve these transformational development aspirations.
“In this respect our relations, with the UAE as well as with Saudi Arabia are crucially important for Solomon Islands to achieve its development aspirations hence the importance of my visit to two countries at the end of this month.”
On CHOGM, PM Manele said, “again this is very important meeting for us to attend all Commonwealth Heads of Governments’ Meetings to meet as equals to deliberate on matters of critical importance to the world and the Commonwealth, our region and our country as we know climate change and sea-level rise is on the agenda of almost every international and regional meeting.
“The Commonwealth also has very important youth agenda over the years so this will be an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved so far in terms of its youth agenda and also in terms of what the Commonwealth and its agencies are doing in the area of climate change and the environment and other sustainable development issues.
“This is the first time for CHOGM to be held in the Pacific and to be hosted by a Pacific Island Country. The Prime Minister of Samoa is therefore inviting all Pacific Forum Leaders to attend,” he said.
PM Manele said the total travelling cost for all the remaining travelling for this year, which also includes the cost of 11 of the tickets of the officials who will be travelling to the UNGA, is $2.1 million.
He added that the tickets for five members of Solomon Islands delegation are met by the UNGA Secretariat.
The PM said these travelling costs are crucial costs as these international engagements are of benefit to Solomon Islands development progress.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
