Three officers from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) have successfully completing a seminar on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) development and trade and investment promotion for “Belt and Road” countries.
The training was held in Tianjin, China, from May 21st to June 3rd, 2025.
This seminar marks a significant milestone, as it is the first-time officers from the ministry have participated in training opportunities offered by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Embassy in Honiara.
The seminar focused on promoting the development of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) and enhancing trade and investment relations among Belt and Road nations, of which Solomon Islands is a member.
Chief Mechanical Officer Philip Tanikoba reflected that one of the most impactful experiences was attending a lecture centred on real-life case studies related to the successful implementation of FTAs.
“Learning about the challenges and successes faced by other nations provided a broader perspective on how our government can harness similar strategies and adapt them to our development aspirations.”
“The insights gained from these lectures on regulatory environments and best practices for attracting foreign investment were particularly enlightening,” Mr. Tanikoba stated.
During the two-week event, the officers expressed their understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a potentially transformative mechanism to boost global GDP, especially for developing nations.
The officers look forward to applying their newfound knowledge in their service to the ministry, particularly in delivering infrastructure and services to the people.
This training opportunity signifies a step forward in strengthening the capacity of the government’s infrastructure sector and fostering international cooperation with development partners.
A recent project that MID has collaborated on with PRC is the Auki China-Aid Road Project, a key component of the Solomon Islands’ participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 2019, the embassy and government have jointly coordinated and successfully implemented numerous infrastructure projects, with MID providing technical support throughout the process.
– MID Press
