Ambassador of Taiwan, His Excellency George Chan, yesterday presented a cheque worth SBD$800,000 to the Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare, for the upcoming Premiers conference.
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) released the fund for the 2007 Premiers Conference to be held in Rennell Bellona Province from the 11th -15th September.The fund was made available following a request by the Solomon Islands Government to the ROC Embassy. In handing over the cheque, Ambassador Chan said he is he is confident that the fund will be used for the benefit of the country. Ambassador Chan also reiterated Taiwan's continuous support to the Solomon Islands' Provincial Governments.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Provincial Government and Rural Development, Mr Fred Ganate, said the Conference Taskforce have only to finalise details of the accommodation for the provincial delegates before the conference is set to begin next month.
Mr Ganate thanked the Government of Taiwan for availing the fund which he said will go a long way to assisting the Ministry and the Rennell Bellona Provincial Government in preparing the conference.
Mr Ganate said the 2007 Premiers Conference is an important part of the Government's bottom-up approach and rural development policy.