The Solomon Islands Government, through the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), held a productive roundtable dialogue with development partners aimed at fast-tracking the Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant project.
This initiative is seen as a cornerstone of the country’s economic transformation efforts.
Held in Honiara last week, the dialogue was led by MNPDC Minister Hon. Rexon Ramofafia and MFMR Minister Hon. Nestor Giro. Both ministers acknowledged the crucial support from development partners throughout the project’s journey and emphasized that the project has now entered the critical financing stage. They underscored the importance of sustained engagement to push the project forward.
“We now have a fully operational Bina Harbour Project Office, generously supported by New Zealand, which is overseeing essential groundwork including land and maritime surveys, geotechnical investigations, port design, utility supply assessments, and quantity surveying,” said Fisheries Minister Hon. Giro. “Crucially, through the Bina Region Arrangements for Governance office, we’ve also supported local landowners in registering their land for development.”
Minister Giro highlighted the methodical and cautious approach taken to ensure the project's success, stating that the careful planning is designed to minimize risks and maximize long-term benefits.
The Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant is projected to bring significant economic benefits, generating approximately USD 400 million in value over 15 years. These gains will flow to the government, salaried workers, the processing plant operator, and the fishing vessel operating company.
“The development will require substantial investment—around USD 200 million—for the port facility, associated infrastructure, and utilities,” Giro added. “This is a prime opportunity for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to establish a tuna processing operation that will deliver generational benefits to our national economy and social well-being.”
MNPDC Minister Ramofafia emphasized the strategic importance of the Bina Harbour project in aligning with the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2035 and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
“The Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant is at the heart of our efforts to shift our economic trajectory and help the Solomon Islands graduate from its Least Developed Country status,” Ramofafia said.
The project is also seen as a vital solution to some of the country's pressing socio-economic challenges. It is expected to create over 1,600 direct jobs, making it the largest development initiative since the Solomon Islands gained independence 45 years ago.
Minister Ramofafia highlighted that the lack of employment opportunities on Malaita Province, one of the factors contributing to past civil unrest, will be directly addressed by the Bina Harbour project.
“We have made significant strides in securing land stability for Bina Harbour through extensive and respectful community engagement,” Ramofafia noted, assuring that local landowners will benefit from the development.
In collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and New Zealand, the government has identified the necessary infrastructure and utilities to support the project. As the initiative now moves into the financing stage, Ramofafia urged development partners to support this multimillion-dollar project.
“This investment cannot be delayed,” he emphasized, pointing out that infrastructure components are being packaged for individual development partners to consider. “We invite our development partners and stakeholders to step forward and contribute to making this transformative project a reality.”
The roundtable dialogue included representatives from key development partners such as New Zealand, the People’s Republic of China, Australia, the USA, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), as well as officials from the Bina Harbour Project Office, MFMR, MNPDC, and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT).
This engagement marks a critical step toward realizing the potential of the Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant, a project that could reshape the Solomon Islands' economic landscape for generations to come.
Source: Press Release, MNPDC