Japan is assisting Solomon Islands address Honiara’s growing traffic issue.
This comes with the launch of a project called “Capacity Improvement of Urban Transport Management in Honiara”.
The project, according to a joint statement from the Japanese and Solomon Islands governments, aims to improve the road traffic environment and create a safe, convenient, and sustainable public bus system in Honiara.
Japan, through its development agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will lead the project.
It will partner with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), Honiara City Council, Guadalcanal Provincial Government, Road Transport Board, and the Royal Solomon Islands Traffic Police to implement the project.
“Through close collaboration and consultation with these stakeholders, the project team will develop and implement new public transport policies, clarify and standardize roles for bus operation, and improve the road traffic environment in Honiara,” the statement said.
The project’s key initiatives include the formulation of public transport policies, standardizing roles for bus operation, developing standards for road traffic signs, and improving public car parking management.
These initiatives aim to provide long-term solutions to make mobility in Honiara more accessible and sustainable, thereby supporting the community’s growth.
“We are excited to be working with the Government of Solomon Islands on this project,” said Yosui Seki, an urban transport policy and traffic management specialist and leader of the JICA expert team.
“Our team has extensive experience in urban transport policy and traffic management, and we are confident that our expertise will contribute to improving the transport management in Honiara,” he added.
Mike Qaqara, Director of the Transport Infrastructure Management Services Department at MID, added that the Technical Assessment (TA) support will greatly help in the improvement of transport management in the city.
“We look forward to working with the JICA team over the next two years,” Qaqara said.
The JICA expert team will conduct a series of consultations with stakeholders, including bus operators, to identify issues and provide long-term solutions.
With over 20 years of experience in urban transport projects in various countries, including Palau, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar, Seki, supported by three other experts, is well-equipped to bring a global perspective to their work.
The project is expected to have a positive impact on the transport sector in Solomon Islands, contributing to the country’s economic growth and development.
