The Government of India has gifted 20 buses worth $1million to the Solomon Islands for the Pacific Games. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare Prime Minister Sogavare made the acknowledgement at the official handing over ceremony of the buses from the Indian government.
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“Your Excellency, today’s official handover of the twenty Tata Buses that has already proven themselves very useful during the Pacific Games, is yet another symbol of our friendship and shared commitment to addressing our common goals together,” PM Sogavare stated.
During the ceremony, PM Manasseh Sogavare expressed his gratitude to India for their friendship. He expressed how helpful the buses were in transporting sporting contingents from camps to games venues and vice versa. The buses can carry 31 passengers, however, it also has hand handles for additional passengers.
PM Sogavare also recommended that going forward India should consider inviting four mechanics from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID) and two mechanics from United Auto to attend training in India.
He further informed that the buses will be distributed to boarding schools in Honiara and in the Provinces, Honiara City Council Transport Services, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Transport Pool.
The Prime Minister added that Solomon Islands is eager to enter into other partnership projects with India in the near future.
The 2023 Pacific Games, officially known as the XVII Pacific Games, is a continental multi-sport event for Oceania countries and territories held in Honiara, Solomon Islands between November 19 and December 2, 2023. This was the first time that the Solomon Islands have hosted the Pacific Games.