Talks With Korea Look Positive For Bina Harbour

30 April 2025 - OFFICIALS FROM HONIARA met with Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and others in Seoul last week to discuss a possible collaboration on the Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant project.

Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Permanent Secretary Dr Christain Ramofafia, Ronald Ivupitu, Chief Engineer Solomon Islands Ports Authority, and Fred Conning, Technical Services Coordinator for the Bina Harbour Project Office, were in Korea to attend a Port Expert Workshop organised by Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and hosted by the Korea Ports and Harbour Association.

Delegates from Vietnam also attended the event, which was a chance to explore partnerships and strengthen ties in the fisheries and maritime industries. The hosts shared their experience in the design, implementation, and financing of port operations. They organised a visit to Busan port and fishing port facilities of a similar scale to that envisaged for the Bina project.

Korean officials expressed interest in reviewing feasibility and other studies produced by the Bina Harbour Project Office with a possible view to supporting Solomon Islands with technical assistance and finance to build enabling infrastructure for a tuna processing plant in Bina.

Dr Ramofafia said Korea and Solomon Islands have enjoyed a longstanding bilateral relationship in fisheries since the 1980s.

“Korea is our largest fishing fleet customer, so we already have a strong economic partnership in the fisheries sector. We would welcome a partnership with Korea to construct Bina port facilities.”

The Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant project, a Solomon Islands Government initiative led by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, is in the preparatory phase. Expert teams from the BHPO are undertaking site studies to support the design and costing of the land and maritime infrastructure and to secure the funds required to enter the construction phase.

The plant in Bina will be the nation's third export port and the first significant investment in Malaita, aiming to generate jobs and boost the local economy.

The Bina Harbour Project Office is funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and assisted by the International Finance Corporation which serves as a transactional advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

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