Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program

Nation building infrastructure

Quality

Better planned, built and maintained infrastructure

Inclusive

Inclusive infrastructure connecting everyone and every province

Local

Supporting local jobs and local industry

The Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) is Australia’s flagship 10-year SBD1.5 billion partnership with Solomon Islands to create local economic opportunities through a large pipeline of economic infrastructure projects. Launched in June 2021, SIIP will:

Help build high quality, nation-building infrastructure focusing on inclusion, climate resilience and local jobs.
Work with government and industry to establish the best settings and practices to plan, finance, construct and maintain infrastructure that helps drive long-term, sustainable economic growth across the nation.

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“SIIP takes a holistic and inclusive approach to improving the quality and access to infrastructure in Solomon Islands.”

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare

“Inclusive, quality infrastructure means engaging with the communities using it, and supporting government and the private sector to plan, finance, build and maintain quality assets.”

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Dr Lachlan Strahan

Fund

AUD250 million
SBD1.5 billion

Period

10-Years

Funded by

The Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

What's new

Local Infrastructure Industry Opportunities

Media release

09 September 2022

The Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) engaged with local and international construction businesses and suppliers in Honiara this week with an industry briefing about the Australian-funded economic infrastructure program, which promises to deliver local jobs and local industry opportunities.

Speaking at the event opening, SIIP Steering Committee member and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, Susan Sulu, said firms who were considering working on SIIP projects should understand SIIP’s twin goals.

Safe, clean, reliable and sustainable water supply for Gizo

Media release

9 September 2022

The Australian-funded Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) and Solomon Water will establish a new water supply system in Gizo. The SIIP Steering Committee approved a funding contribution of SBD56 million (AUD10 million) for the project in their fourth meeting on 1 September 2022.

The Gizo Water Supply Project will deliver a safe, clean, reliable, and sustainable supply of water for Gizo town.

Making Nature Part of the Solution

OpEd from the Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands

Dr Lachlan Strahan, published in both Solomon Star and Island Sun Newspapers.

16 September 2022

"...Infrastructure delivered by the Australian-funded Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) will be green, not grey. SIIP’s Climate Change and Disaster Resilience Strategy explains how SIIP will support the Solomon Islands Government to plan, deliver and maintain infrastructure that is resilient to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters...'

Fact-finding mission assesses economic potential of Buala market

Media release

25 May 2022

Representatives from the Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) have completed a fact-finding mission to improve the Buala market in Isabel Province.

The local technical team, accompanied by program officers from the Australian High Commission, met Isabel Premier Rhoda Sikilabu and her executive, as well as market vendors and local community representatives to gather information about the current market and assess what improvements could best help increase local economic activity in one of several scoping missions to provinces.

Australia-Solomon Infrastructure Partnership Supports Noro Port Upgrade

Media release

15 May 2022

Australia’s flagship Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) in May to support the upgrade of the country’s second largest port in Noro, Western Province.

SIIP will deliver a detailed design to increase the capacity and efficiency of Noro Port which processes both domestic and international shipping, including passenger, freight and fishing fleets.

SIIP to redevelop six provincial markets

Media release

8 March 2022

Australia’s flagship Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) has agreed to fast track redevelopment of six markets across Malaita, Guadalcanal, Honiara, Isabel and Western Province, improve provincial ports and launch a new SIIP website. SIIP is in its first phase of implementation. Work on the markets project is expected to commence by December 2022.

These priorities were set at SIIP’s second joint Steering Committee meeting, co-chaired by Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers and Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan. Given the volume of high-profile and urgent work coming down the SIIP pipeline, the Committee agreed to increase its meetings from every six months to quarterly.

SIIP highlights women 'breaking the bias' in infrastructure

Feature

8 March 2022

Join us celebrate the women who make a difference to infrastructure in Solomon Islands! SIIP is highlighting stories of women who continue to push the boundaries to break bias in the infrastructure space, click on this link to listen to their stories.

Read all news

What we do

SIIP focuses on infrastructure that drives growth and the economy including: transport (land, sea and air), ICT, electricity, water and sanitation, and infrastructure that supports rural development (eg markets).

Our activities and strategic direction are set by a high level bilateral SIIP Steering Committee co-chaired by the Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Australian High Commissioner. Membership also includes the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of National Planning and Development Coordination, and Finance and Treasury. The Steering Committee reviews program progress and performance, and ensures program funding is committed and spent in effective and efficient ways.

Construction of high quality, priority infrastructure

Greater Access To Infrastructure Finance 190X190

Greater access to international infrastructure finance

Increased capability of government and industry

Improved planning and policy settings to support inclusive, quality infrastructure

Current Activities

Provincial Markets Redevelopment Project: SIIP is working with provincial governments to redevelop up to ten markets across Solomon Islands to grow local economies. Focusing on sub-stations to maximise local benefit, three locations are being assessed in Malaita, Isabel and Western Province. A further three locations will be identified in Guadalcanal and Honiara, with remaining provinces to follow.

Noro Port Redevelopment: SIIP is partnering with the Solomon Islands Ports Authority [link - https://www.sipa.com.sb/sipa-facilities/ports/noro-port/] to upgrade Noro Port wharves and facilities. This nation-building project will create opportunities for local businesses and increase national fisheries exports. SIPA and SIIP signed an MoU for the project in May 2022 and SIIP has commenced the detailed feasibility and design studies that will be a prerequisite for attracting funding for construction and overall project delivery.

Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant: SIIP is financing a major water and sanitation feasibility study for the Bina Harbour tuna processing plant and Bina township, a critical step in progressing this national infrastructure development priority. This nation-building project is being led by the Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources with support from New Zealand and the International Finance Corporation. Read more

Expected outcomes

Solomon Islands Government and industry have greater capacity to plan, manage, finance, construct and maintain critical economic infrastructure. SIIP will leave a legacy of high profile, resilient and accessible infrastructure across a range of sectors throughout the country to support inclusive economic growth.

Our guiding principles

Five guiding principles drive SIIP decision-making

Alignment

with Solomon Islands’ and Australian development objectives.

Inclusive

gender, disability and geographical spread (rural/provincial).

Safety and quality

strengthening policies and practices.

Strengthening climate change and disaster resilience

integrated into infrastructure planning, design and delivery.

Local content

infrastructure that supports the local economy, strengthens local industry, improves industry practices, and enhances workforce capacity and participation.

Local content: Growing jobs and opportunities

Growing local jobs and opportunities is one of SIIP’s five key principles. The Steering Committee has also determined that every SIIP-supported investment must be planned, designed, procured and constructed to optimize local content outcomes.

Prioritising and designing infrastructure developments around local content means more jobs and more economic opportunities to support the nation’s recovery from COVID-19. SIIP will help create jobs both in the construction sector and within the communities we work with. Each SIIP activity will prioritise industry skills, training opportunities and the use of local materials. SIIP will balance these local content principles with delivering quality, resilient infrastructure.

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