Australia supports local construction sector skills workshop
Media Release
22 July 2024
Since 2019, Australia has invested in over SBD5 billion in infrastructure in Solomon Islands, with over 460 projects delivered across all provinces by mostly local companies and local workers.
Australia’s Workforce Skills Series workshops – attended by over 570 participants from over 100 different local construction and supply companies – aim to put the local construction sector on the front foot to benefit from current and future infrastructure projects.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, said Australia’s objective is to strengthen the local construction sector to win more jobs and deliver much needed infrastructure for the economic growth of Solomon Islands.
“This means supporting local companies to be better prepared to respond to upcoming construction tenders, including looking at different ways to benefit from work, and improving understanding of the different types of contracts that they may sign up to,” Mr Hilton said.
Attending the recent tendering essentials workshop, the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, Ministry of Infrastructure Development, and Solomon Water presented their pipelines of upcoming infrastructure projects to workshop participants.
Mr Matthew Walekoro from the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination said they wanted to see local companies become more professional, successfully tender and then deliver quality works on time and on budget.
‘Workshops such as this are important in raising the standard of work for all local companies and building their capacity, as well as learning innovative ideas in construction skills,’ Mr Walekoro said.
Mr Rodney Kavumauri from Motawa Enterprises said, “We have attended a number of the Workforce Skills Series workshops, and they have helped us meet tender requirements and improve our workplace culture, workplace safety, and help us become more professional and stand out from the crowd.’
The next Workforce Skills Series workshop is planned for 30 July focusing on putting together a Bill of Quantities.
