The National Transport Fund (NTF) remains committed to empowering local civil construction companies, driving sustainable development across the Solomon Islands.
Last week’s contract signing ceremony at Malaita Provincial Chambers in Auki exemplifies this commitment and reflects the strengthened partnership between the Australian Government and Solomon Islands.
Central to this effort is the prioritization of local content—awarding contracts to local companies to repair and reconstruct the country’s most populous road infrastructure of Malaita Province.
“This initiative supports our people and our companies to grow and prosper—employing hardworking Solomon Islanders to work on the development of Malaita, learn skills, and contribute to our national prosperity,” Minister of Infrastructure Development Ricky Fuo’o remarked.
He said the ministry’s Transport Infrastructure Management Services Division (TIMSD) is committed to working with the local contractors to ensure they deliver high-quality, resilient infrastructure that will stand the test of time and the tests of our tropical climate.
Similar sentiments were also echoed by Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, H.E. Rod Hilton, highlighting that prioritizing local labor, materials, and businesses creates more local jobs, enhances skills, and fosters economic resilience.
He further highlighted Australia’s Workforce Skills Series trainings, which for the past three years have benefitted local contractors.
“…they’ve put the training into action, put in the hard work to build their company, build their expertise, and successfully tendered for these valuable projects.”
A representative of the local contractors, Jeremiah Fono’ota, Executive Director of Exodus Trade Development, uttered his heartfelt thanks to the Australian Government for recognizing local content.
“With local content, it invokes a sense of ownership to look after and maintain our road infrastructures.
“For some of us, this is a big step since venturing into civil works,” Mr. Fono’ota said, adding that their collaboration with development partners in past years has helped them have the capacity and resources to deliver bigger projects.
Exodus Trade group was also awarded the contract to build the Malu’u New Market in North Malaita.
The three local companies that were awarded the road contracts are:-
1. Trades Transformation Company Limited to tar seal the first 5 km of road from Kwaibala to Oibola. They were also awarded the contract to rehabilitate the 33 km road stretch from Maoa (West Kwaio) to Hauhui (West Are’are). Their contract duration is 12 months.
2. FT Builders to rehabilitate and extend works for the 37.89 km North East Road (East Fataleka to Subobono).
3. Exodus Trade Development to repair Busurata Road (Ambu junction to Busurata Community, which is 15 km) for duration of 6 months.
These contracts committed almost SBD 40 million sourced from the National Transport Fund (NTF), which was fully funded by the Australian Government. The remaining SBD 20 million is committed to road improvement projects in Honiara in preparation for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, as well as other road works. Again, local contractors were engaged for three road improvement works.
1. Lekamboli Street (Vavaya Ridge Chief’s House to back of ITA hardware shop by pass for road widening and drainage improvement)
2. Drainage improvement below the Holy Cross Cathedral to the Fijian Quarter outlet.
3. Chinatown drainage improvement (old Mataniko Bridge to Lawson Tama)
This projects augments the government’s 2017-2035 National Transport Plan (NTP) that provides a structured approach to transport infrastructure—emphasizing accessibility, safety, and efficiency to support social and economic progress.
– MID
