Written by MFOR Media on 30 June 2025.
Quality aggregates in scaled quantity is the on-going challenge for most atoll countries in the Pacific. The team from the World Bank conducted their scoping mission with a view to garner solutions surrounding designs, technology, environment and social safeguards and financing. This team met the MFOR team to share some of the findings which will be shared back to a Pacific meeting and then the World Bank for potential future funding and programming. Secretary Riibeta Abeta, reiterated the need to build local capacities to confidently create land space from the existing resources (lagoon, boulders from outer island, Banaba, etc) and capabilities such as Teatinimarawa Company and potential collaborations with specialized overseas companies and financing institutions. This ambition is well received by the World Bank and will work towards supporting this vision. The MFOR acknowledged the World Bank team for the on-going assistance provided to MFOR and Kiribat, particularly this pipe-line project that is very important for Kiribati.
The team from SPC comprised of Herve Damlamian – Team Leader Oceanography and Gary Lee – Geoscience Adviser visited Kiribati from 23 to 26 June to conduct consultations with stakeholders on geoscience, aggregates and oceanography needs and challenges. This a response to request from MFOR Geoscience Division team to collaborate with them on these needs. Secretary Riibeta Abeta and the Geoscience team met the SPC Delegation for a debriefing and finding the way forward to actioning some of the proposed solutions, ideas for future projects and way forward. The MFOR acknowledged SPC for the continuous support to Kiribati on these scientific and technical needs.
Written by MFOR Media on 27 June 2025.
Written by MFOR Media on 25 June 2025.
The fate of local artisanal fishermen and their markets alongside the road on South Tarawa will be transformed through the introduction of new state of the art fish vendor units that fitted with refrigerated freshness displays, solar lights, standby power banks, drainage systems and a comfortable mini-containerized unit. These 5 new fish vendor units were launched today, 26th June 2025, at the TUC Teaoraereke with the selected groups of 8 local fishermen owners from Teaoraereke village. These 8 selected will pilot the operation of these new fish vendor units, in close collaboration with TUC council and the Competent Authority team from the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources. Secretary Riibeta Abeta in his launching remarks; congratulated TUC Mayor and the new owners of these fish vendors for being the pioneers of this project. These vendor units will showcase the new way of selling hygienic and high-quality local fish products in South Tarawa. These units were also blessed spiritually by Father Mataio from the the catholic church for the new users. As a pilot project, each fish vendor unit costs around AUD$6,000 which comes with a full set of refrigerant freshness display, solar panel for solar lights, power bank and a cooler to store the fish catch stock. The MFOR acknowledged the European Union through the EU Sector Support Project for the financial assistance injected to this project, as well as the assistance of suppliers from China and local contractors involved in making this ground-breaking project a reality.
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