Two major infrastructure projects have been earmarked for the remote island of Vanikoro in Temotu Province next year.
They include a new airport and a maritime security post.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Communication and Aviation, Frederick Kologeto, said the two projects aim to strengthen aviation connectivity and protect the Solomon Islands’ eastern maritime borders.
Vanikoro is one of the outer islands in the Temotu group, which borders Melanesian neighbor Vanuatu.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony of the Santa Cruz (Lata) Airport Runway and Terminal Project in the provincial capital of Lata today, Kologeto said the Government is committed to improving infrastructure in remote island communities while strengthening national security and safeguarding the country’s eastern maritime borders.
He said through the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, construction of the new Vanikoro Airport will commence in 2027.
“The project represents another important commitment to improving connectivity across remote islands,” Kologeto said.
“It will strengthen the national aviation network and ensure communities in Temotu Province are better connected to essential services and economic opportunities.”
In tandem with the aviation project, work on the Eastern Border Patrol Base in Vanikoro is also scheduled to begin in 2027.
Overseen by the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, this security post reflects the Government’s focus on monitoring and safeguarding its sovereign territory and enhancing maritime border security in the east.
Kologeto said these parallel priorities demonstrate that the Government’s development agenda extends beyond standalone infrastructure to encompass both nationwide connectivity and national defense.
The announcements were made against the backdrop of the successful completion and handover of the Santa Cruz Airport upgrade.
The Acting Prime Minister described the upcoming Vanikoro developments as a vital investment that will connect isolated island communities and expand opportunities for trade, tourism, and economic growth in the region.
