The East Micronesia Cable Project will connect Kosrae (FSM), Nauru and Tarawa (Kiribati) to the existing HANTRU-1 cable at Pohnpei (FSM) and provide faster, higher quality, and more reliable and secure internet connectivity to these countries.

Australia, through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), is partnering with Japan and the United States to provide financing and implementation support to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, and Nauru for this Project.

Improved connectivity and access to digital technologies can provide significant economic and social benefits and are key enablers of sustainable development. They also help increase the availability of digital government services, particularly in education and health, and provide businesses and households with improved access to services, information and trade, and employment opportunities.

This project adds to Australia’s portfolio of investments in the critical telecommunications sector, which also includes the Coral Sea Cable System, the Palau Submarine Cable and the front-end engineering design for the Timor-Leste South Sea Cable.

Improving East Micronesia telecommunications connectivity | Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Women (archived link)

For more information contact aiffp@dfat.gov.au

Australia, through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, has signed a FJD106 million (AUD68 million) investment in Airports Fiji Pte Ltd (AFL). The Australian investment, alongside ANZ Fiji, will help fund capital works at Nadi International and other outer islands’ airports, refinance existing debt, and address several infrastructure priorities of Fiji Airports Limited.

The financing utilises AIFFP’s guarantee mechanism to facilitate a Fijian Dollar denominated loan by co-lending with ANZ.

The return of international tourists is vital to Fiji’s economic recovery. Support provided by AIFFP and ANZ Fiji will ensure that once international travel reconvenes, Fiji and neighbouring islands will be ready to welcome travellers.  

AFL is a Fijian state-owned enterprise, highly prized by the Fijian Government, and the primary provider of commercial airport services in Fiji. The financing provided by the AIFFP and ANZ will facilitate economic growth and prosperity by boosting local tourism infrastructure, increasing local jobs in Fiji and provide an aviation hub for the Pacific at the Nadi International Airport. 

For more information, contact aiffp@dfat.gov.au or visit:

• Supporting tourism recovery in Fiji | Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Women (archived link)

• ANZ partners with Australian Government to support critical infrastructure in Fiji

• Airports Fiji  

As a key initiative under the Trilateral Partnership for Infrastructure investment in the Indo-Pacific, Australia, the US, and Japan have invested approximately AUD40 million in the project, along with Palau. Australia’s contribution, including management of US funding, is being delivered by the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific.

The project will ensure more reliable and secure digital connectivity which will translate into improved government services, access to information to improve education and health services, and entrepreneurial opportunities that contribute to prosperity, particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Papua New Guinea’s maritime infrastructure will benefit from the signing today of an agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea to design and scope the upgrade and refurbishment of key ports across the country. 

Under the agreement, Australia, through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), will support PNG Ports Corporation to prepare investments under Papua New Guinea’s 30-Year Ports Infrastructure Master Plan.  

This design and scoping work is expected to result in potential investments, through the AIFFP, estimated at AUD400 million. Australia’s support will assist PNG Ports Corporation to increase the capacity of Papua New Guinea’s commercial ports to accommodate larger ships, which will improve trade and connectivity in the region.

The  AIFFP signed financing agreements with Solomon Islands Electricity Authority and Solomon Islands for more affordable and reliable energy for Honiara. This USD22.7 million dollar package will finance the development and construction of a 22km  transmission system to deliver renewable energy generated by the Tina River Hydropower Project to Honiara.

This critical piece of infrastructure will result in more affordable and reliable electricity for Solomon Islands.  The investment also creates jobs during construction and over the long-term as the benefits of cheaper electricity are realised  by households, businesses and government services.

The renewable energy produced will also displace up to as much as 18 million litres of imported diesel and 49,500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. It will enable Solomon Islands to meet 100 per cent of the country’s international commitment for emissions reduction under the Paris Agreement.

PRESS RELEASE

Supporting reliable electricity for Solomon Islands

• Joint media release with:

• Former Senator the Hon Zed Seselja, Minister for International Development and the Pacific

16 June 2021

Improved access to reliable electricity for Solomon Islands is one step closer with an historic agreement signed today with the Australian Government under the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP).

Australia is funding construction of a 22km transmission system to deliver renewable energy generated by the Tina River Hydropower Project to Honiara. This is part of our almost $60 million investment in this important energy project. 

This critical piece of infrastructure will help provide reliable electricity for more people in Solomon Islands, alleviating pressure on household incomes and providing opportunities for improved government and community services. 

The renewable energy produced will also enable Solomon Islands to meet 100 per cent of their international commitment for emissions reduction under the Paris Agreement.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne said that the deal was a vital part of the region's economic recovery post COVID-19.

“Australia's support will not only create local jobs in the construction phase, but also create longer term opportunities for the people of Solomon Islands,” Minister Payne said.

“Solomon Islands is more than a partner, they are our family, our wantok. Together, we can invest in the future of households, businesses and government services in Honiara via reliable renewable energy.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator the Hon Zed Seselja said that the project would be instrumental in supporting the economy of Solomon Islands.

“The Tina River Hydropower Project is a bold, transformational infrastructure project. Australia is proud to support the Solomon Islands in realising its vision for economic development,” Minister Seselja said.

Australia and Solomon Islands will continue to work together on opportunities, such as the Tina River Hydropower Project, that advance the prosperity, security and stability of the region.

Australia, through the AIFFP, signed a series of agreements with Palau and the Belau Submarine Cable Corporation (BSCC) to provide financing for the construction of an undersea fibre optic cable which will connect to a US-Singapore trunk cable. The signing ceremony was held on Wednesday, 13 January 2021 in Palau and attended by President Thomas Remengesau Jr., President Elect Surangel Whipps Jr., Australia’s Ambassador to Palau, Richelle Turner and the Chairman of BSCC,  Keobel Sakuma.  

The cable will reinforce the communications infrastructure of Palau, contributing to increasing its communication capacity and raising the stability of its international communications. With the improvement of the communications infrastructure, the investment environment of Palau will also improve, contributing to promoting investment from overseas and developing the economy of Palau. This economic boost, including local jobs in the cable’s construction, comes at a much-needed time during the COVID pandemic recovery.

The AIFFP’s support for this project builds on Australia’s support for the 4,700km of the Coral Sea Cable System cable connecting Sydney, Port Moresby and Honiara, as well as the AIFFP’s support to Timor Leste for its first undersea cable.

Foreign Ministers of Japan, the U.S., and Australia announced in Vietnam in October 2020 that this Palau cable project will be the first under the Trilateral Infrastructure Partnership  Investment in the Indo Pacific (TIP) . 

Australia opened its first diplomatic mission to Palau in 2019. This project further demonstrates our strong relationship with Palau.

REMARKS BY AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR TO PALAU, RICHELLE TURNER

COVID-19 has underscored the importance of reliable, affordable, resilient internet connectivity. We saw family and friends catching up on WhatsApp and Facetime, schools and universities delivering classes online, medical specialists meeting weekly via Zoom, international and bilateral virtual meetings via Webex and other platforms.

In addition, with the arrival of the first submarine cable in 2017 – PC1, telecommunication connectivity in Palau has experienced rapid growth in access to and use of digital infrastructure. As of January 2020, there were over 17,000 internet and social media users – or 94% of the population using the internet.

With this increase in internet traffic, the requirement for sustainable and affordable back up capacity is vital. In 2019, Palau identified the ECHO cable network as a viable trunk option to develop a second cable, with a view to creating the required resilience. At that stage, Palau approached both the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to partner in the development of a second cable for Palau.

In response to challenging economic circumstances as a result of COVID19, Palau and Australia demonstrated flexibility in maintaining momentum on the project by reserving a connection to the ECHO cable network. This was secured in early 2020 with the commitment of financing from Australia to cover the marine survey and a branching unit. This financing provided time to secure additional partners to tailor a financial package that responded to the economic challenges of COVID19 while still realising the connection to the ECHO cable.

With Palau, and under our Trilateral Infrastructure Partnership with Japan and the United States, a package of support has been secured which responds to the economic pressures of COVID19 while addressing Government of Palau’s priority for national resilience.

This partnership demonstrates our collective will and capacity to pool resources and provide high-quality, sustainable critical infrastructure that serves the genuine needs of the people of Palau. PC2, or Palau Cable 2, will ensure reliable, secure, digital connectivity that in turn will support private sector growth, government services, new investment and improve Palau’s resilience to COVID-19 impacts.

Australia will continue to work closely with Palau and the Pacific to ensure unity and identify opportunities for the long-term sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19.

Your Excellencies, partners, friends and colleagues. Today is a celebration and a demonstration of the strength of our partnership, cooperation and shared interests and values. Infrastructure projects such as this lie at the heart of our collective vision for a secure, stable, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Australia is very pleased to support Palau’s vision to strengthen its connectivity to the global internet and looks forward to working with Palau, Japan and the US to ensure the expected project benefits are realised.

 Mesulang, Thank you

The Australia Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) took part in NAIDOC Week 2020 celebrations, the annual National Aboriginal and Islander celebration.  Held from 8-15 November under the theme ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, the Week offered an invaluable opportunity to come together to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet.

The theme, Always Was, Always Will Be acknowledges Australia’s story began at the dawn of time.

AIFFP engages with Indigenous Australia to identify ways to promote economic empowerment and cultural understanding.  NAIDOC Week also marks the anniversary of the partnership between the AIFFP and First People Recruitment Services, a fully indigenous owned firm that provided $10.3 million in recruitment services to the AIFFP, delivered over four years. AIFFP recently partnered with another indigenous owned firm, Promo Gear, for design and distribution of the Facility’s merchandise.

AIFFP is working closely with the Wantok Foundation to ensure that original music from Indigenous artists from across the Pacific are featured in the audio-visual materials produced to showcase its projects, including Charles Maimarosia from Solomon Islands and George Telek Mamua MBE from Papua New Guinea.