A new report, Building Together – five years of infrastructure partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia,has been officially launched this week by Solomon Islands Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination, Rexon Ramofafia and Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Schloeffel during the Pacific Infrastructure Conference 2025, in Brisbane.
The report provides a snapshot of the 515 projects delivered across Solomon Islands’ nine provinces, totalling over SBD5 billion, with the majority delivered by local firms and local workers, creating local jobs.
Minister Ramofafia said the Solomon Islands – Australia infrastructure partnership set a high standard within the Pacific, with strong local procurement and skilled jobs for local workers, quality, climate resilience, and infrastructure linked to economic impact.
“Good infrastructure relies on trusted partnerships, developing our private sector and aligning with our priorities, and that is the story of this report,” Mr Ramofafia said.
Australian High Commissioner, Rod Hilton, said the Building Together reportrecognised the value of Australia’s long-term approach, focusing on projects with social and economic impact, creating local jobs, and supporting local companies to deliver more Australian-funded projects at a high quality.
“The report demonstrates there is more to infrastructure than building roads, bridges, schools or ports,” Hilton said.
“While hard infrastructure is important, how we deliver the infrastructure is the real challenge – and that means building climate resilience, working with the government and private sector to design, deliver and maintain a better standard of infrastructure that serves communities and enables them to grow and prosper.”
Recent research has shown Australia’s approach to localising procurement and local workforces means every aid dollar invested by the people of Australia results in $2.50 of local economic benefit.
The launch was also attended by Solomon Islands ministerial delegation, including the Minister of Infrastructure Development, Minister of Rural Development, Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, and Minister of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, together with representatives from Solomon Islands and international contractors.
Minister Fuo’o acknowledged Australia as a long-time supporter of infrastructure in Solomon Islands, and the commitment to localise infrastructure delivery using local contractors and suppliers.
“The report features many Solomon Islands companies who are here today, and you should be congratulated for your efforts,” Fuo’o said.
“We want infrastructure to be high quality, resilient and easily operated and maintained using local suppliers. The newly passed National Building Code, a 30-year effort, now offers us with uniform standards to guide better infrastructure development in the future.”
Copies of Building Together – five years of infrastructure partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia can be downloaded from Australia’s Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program website: www.siip.com.sb/publications.