AUSTRALIA’S Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, joined the Hon Peter Shanel Agovaka, Minister for Communications and Aviation, in Honiara last week to hand over postal equipment that will help improve the efficiency and security of postal services between Australia and Solomon Islands.
The postal equipment was donated by the Australian Government to Solomon Islands under the Pacific Postal Development Partnership. This Partnership aims to improve the reliability of postal services between Australia and Pacific nations, as well as access to e-commerce opportunities, and strengthen connectivity for consumers and businesses.
Minister Rowland officially handed over more than 300 items of equipment, including two Electric Delivery Vehicles, ten motorbikes, personal protective equipment, computers, scanning and sorting equipment, uniforms, and other supplies, to be used in Solomon Islands.
‘The equipment being handed over will support more efficient postal services in Solomon Islands, and create new opportunities for citizens and businesses,’ said Ms Rowland.
‘Although we live in a digital age, postal services remain an important enabler of social connectivity,’ said Minister Rowland.
Minister Shanel warmly received the Minister’s donation and thanked the Government of Australia for the generous support. Minister Shanel said, ‘This equipment will complement the work of the Solomon Islands Postal Corporation to modernise their operation.’
Implementing partner, Australia Post, will commission the equipment and provide support to Solomon Post employees through operational training and ongoing support.
‘We’re happy to be working so closely with Solomon Post and look forward to the next phase of the program, where we can share knowledge and assistance where it’s most needed,’ said Ms Tanya Thornton, Head of Shareholder Department Liaison for Australia Post.
Through the Pacific Postal Development Partnership, the Australian Government provided funding to Australia Post to support improvements to postal systems, processes, technology and training in Solomon Islands, as well as other Pacific countries. This is being supplemented by Australia Post’s expertise and in-kind support to help meet the needs of Pacific postal operators.
Australia launched the Partnership in 2022 in response to a rise in the number of parcel deliveries from Australia to Pacific nations. This includes the approximately 10,000 Solomon Islanders living in Australia.
