The Director General of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Pacific Department, Xianbin Yao, along with ADB's Regional Director, Andrea Iffland, will visit Honiara to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo and other senior government officials for discussions on ADB's support to Solomon Islands.
"ADB and Solomon Islands are working together to promote inclusive growth through improvements in transport, information and communications technology (ICT), education, renewable energy, and private sector development," said Mr. Yao. "This strong partnership in these areas will lead to improved basic service delivery."
During the visit on 29-31 October, Mr. Yao and Ms. Iffland will visit the ADB-funded electronic Companies Registry (Company Haus), which enables online registration of companies in Solomon Islands and contributes towards the Government's efforts to improve efficiency of doing business in the country.
The ADB mission will also make a visit to the 100 hectare site to be developed into the new campus of the University of the South Pacific (USP) at Doma in West Guadalcanal. The project is being funded from a US$19 million loan that USP secured from ADB, with the Solomon Islands Government as the sovereign guarantor.
The ADB delegation will also meet with development partners to discuss areas of cooperation and coordination.
ADB is helping boost economic opportunities, reconnect communities and reduce poverty in some of the most disadvantaged areas in Solomon Islands through a range of initiatives, including infrastructure development and support for private sector development. ADB is working closely with the Government to help modernize business laws, improve corporate governance of state-owned enterprises, and increase access to finance opportunities.
These activities are part of the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), co-funded by ADB, Australia and New Zealand. PSDI supports efforts by ADB Pacific member countries to encourage private sector led, sustainable economic growth.