23 July 2013
Signing of the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership for Development
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo and Australian Foreign Minister, Bob Carr today signed an enhanced Partnership for Development between the two countries.
The Partnership is the basis of Australia’s aid relationship with Solomon Islands.
The revised Partnership will now include assistance to justice services and public sector management, as well as support for the 2014 elections.
These additional priorities reflect the move of development programs under the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to the Australian aid program, which took place on 1 July 2013.
The new Partnership will continue to support efforts to improve health, education and infrastructure for Solomon Islanders.
“The expanded Partnership promotes development in Solomon Islands and supports our shared efforts to improve the lives of all Solomon Islanders,” Senator Carr said.
“We are pleased to be able to maintain the gains of former RAMSI development programs under the longer-term Partnership.”
Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo welcomed the enhanced Partnership.
“Solomon Islands values our relationship with Australia and places great importance on the Partnership. Our relationship has deepened and grown from strength to strength. The government and people of Solomon Islands are very appreciative of Australia’s support,” Prime Minister Lilo said.
Australia and Solomon Islands have set ambitious targets for the year ahead through the Partnership. This includes working together to improve the quality of basic education, deliver more resources to provincial health posts and provide an additional 10,000 people in rural areas with access to safe water and basic sanitation.
Solomon Islands Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination, Connelly Sandakabatu and Australian Minister for International Development, Melissa Parke witnessed the signing.
Connelly Sandakabatu and Melissa Parke witnessed the signing of the Partnership.