China set to launch Malaita’s first major China Aid project in Auki.

Aimela, Malaita Province – Peoples Republic of Chnia (PRC) through China Aid is set to roll out its major project in style in Auki, Malaita. In the past, many projects have been launched by donors and partners in conference rooms and other spaces. This year, China Aid has decided to build the Auki tarseal road. Preparation for the launching program of the about SBD10 Million worth infrastructure project has been happening over the last three days.

The project, set to transform Auki township and change transport experiences, is set to be launched at the famous Auki Primary School playing ground. As of today, preparations are underway, with crowds and the public in Auki already attracted to the company's erection of different flags of China Aid, company flags, various banners, and government flags. The launching ceremony is causing a lot of visibility for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) China Aid.

Already, the public who operate land transport and those who use public transport have anticipated the new experience that this tarseal road will bring if completed successfully.

Malaita Issue asked about public reaction towards the development. One rural dweller from far east Malaita who attends health services at Kilufi hospital reacted by saying, "Definitely, this road will benefit people in Auki. While this is good, this is the kind of project that most of our rural areas have lacked until today. Those in Auki will benefit if completed, but to us, the benefit will be minimal because we are remote, and anything that happens in our rural area will benefit us."

The China-Aid Auki Road project, with its camp already established at Aligego Provincial Secondary School, will upgrade Auki's existing road, including: (1) laying asphalt concrete pavement and cement concrete pavement, (2) setting up traffic signs and markings, and (3) rebuilding the drainage system. This will cover both the main roads and 15 feeder roads within Auki. The total length of the road under this project is 9.258 kilometers. The road project is expected to change Auki's road system into a modern road system.

In Malaita, roads are a key infrastructure that links rural people to Auki as the main center. Malaita has a North road that is about 120km, an East Road that is approximately 60 km, a South road that is approximately 50km, Busurata which is approximately 14 km, Fulisango road which is less than 10 km, and many other feeder roads in the Northern, Central, and Western regions of Malaita. Most parts of the Southern road of Malaita have limited access to roads as they rely on logging roads that need improvement. Malaita Issue understands that from Hauhui to Muku, a logging road exists and is less accessible, with only about 3km connecting Hauhui to Muki in the East Are’are new East Kwaio. If there is any intervention from this position, then Malaita should be more accessible internally.

Malaita Issue also understands that other road projects currently underway in Malaita are largely funded by Australia under its infrastructure program. Other key infrastructure projects funded to transform Malaita's experience are East Malaita road improvement by the World Bank, Kilufi Hospital Improvement project by Japan, Falake Mini Hydro by Japan, and Maluu Market Project funded by Australia. Australia under DAP and Japan under the grassroots program also funded many social sector projects worth up to SBD1 million in Malaita.

Other projects currently planned for Malaita are the Bina Harbor Tuna Processing facility project facilitated by New Zealand, Suafa Bay Economic Growth Centre facilitated by the Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labor, and Immigration (MCILI), and the now disturbed SCALE-designed project funded by USAID.

Solomon Islands and Malaita have been known for many failed projects in the past.