Good morning and welcome,

• Dr. Melchior Mataki, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology
• TBC, Director, University of the South Pacific Solomon Islands Campus
• Ms. Ranju Kumar, Course Leader, University of the South Pacific
• Other representatives of Government ministries, agencies, and statutory authorities
• Representatives of the private sector and non-governmental organizations
• Ladies and gentlemen

I am very pleased to join all of you today to launch the project management course organized by the United States Agency for International Development, commonly known as USAID, in partnership with the University of the South Pacific. USAID is the lead U.S. government agency for international development and disaster assistance.

I am truly honored to be here among this group of individuals who have shown their commitment to strengthen the resilience of their communities and country.

On behalf of the American people, we value our close friendship with the people of the Pacific Islands region. The U.S. and the Solomon Islands share a friendship that is based on trust and mutual interests, with our long history of defense partnerships, commercial links, and people-to-people ties. Our partnership with the University of the South Pacific builds upon our strong ties as we together promote a prosperous and stable future for the people of this country.

Resilient development requires everyone across all sectors of the economy to work together. The U.S. government is pleased to work with national and local governments, the private sector, and academia to address pressing development needs that not only affect this country, but also this strategically important region as a whole.

When USAID launched its Ready project in November 2016, we set out to work with Pacific Island Countries to increase their access to international sources of financing. These international funds will help countries become more environmentally and disaster resilient, so they can better protect the lives and livelihoods of their people.

But accessing these resources is just one part of the solution. To ensure that the available funding is best utilized and that the most vulnerable among us benefit, projects must be well-managed and implemented. The right people with the right skills are needed if these projects are to deliver on their promised benefits.

USAID has invested in this project management course so that key managers will be equipped to effectively manage and finance projects that prevent and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters in the region.

We thank the Government of the Solomon Islands for its cooperation and collaboration with USAID, and the University of the South Pacific for delivering the course and for hosting this event.

We look forward to continued collaboration as we work together in building and sustaining a more prosperous and resilient Pacific Islands region.

Thank you.