25 May 2005

New Zealand to support fishing ventures in rural Solomon Islands

8:29 pm on 25 May 2005

The New Zealand aid agency, NZAID, is to help foster fishing enterprises in rural parts of Solomon Islands.

NZAID has more money for its Pacific aid programmes after last week's budget, with around a 150 million New Zealand dollars allocated for the coming year.

Since the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission in Solomon Islands, New Zealand, in association with the European Union, has focussed on basic education, and this will be the main emphasis of its aid programme for the foreseeable future.

But Craig Hawke of NZAID says they also recognise a need to support economic growth ventures and the organisation plans to work with the Fisheries Minister.

"One, strengthening that department - again the tensions also affected the department, but also looking at practical initiatives in the rural area to support livelihoods."