THE visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Hon. Carmel Sepuloni paid a courtesy call to the Governor General, Sir David Vunagi this evening.
Deputy Prime Minister Sepuloni arrived in Honiara this evening with her 52-person delegation as part of their Pacific Mission to Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga – the first to be undertaken since COVID-19 PANDEMI.
She is accompanied by Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds, Minister for Climate Change James Shaw and a delegation including Parliamentary and NGO representatives, iwi, business and community leaders and Pacific youth.
Following a red-carpet welcome at the Honiara International Airport, Ms. Sepuloni and the accompanying Ministers were taken to Government House where they had a successful meeting with the Governor General, Sir David Vunagi.
Hon. Sepuloni is expected to pay a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare tomorrow (Monday 17th April 2023).
The Deputy Prime Minister will also hold a Bilateral Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Jeremiah Manele where they are expected to discuss new and ongoing partnerships between the two countries.
The delegation will also visit a number of New Zealand funded projects including St. Vincent Early Childhood Education Centre at Burns Creek, Amazing Grace Cocoa Farm at Tenaru, Multi-Purpose Youth Hall and the Forum Fisheries Agency.
A lunch will be held with New Zealand Scholarship Alumni at the Heritage Park Hotel.
She will also attend a Climate Change Adaptation Event at the SINU Kukum Campus, and join Minister of Foreign Affairs & External Trade, Hon. Jeremiah Manele for a Joint Press Conference at the end of her official engagements.”
The Minister will also have the chance to have morning tea with returned workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme before leaving the country on Tuesday morning.
