Construction work on Project for Expansion of Betio Port in the Republic of Kiribati will commence soon. The Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kiribati, H.E. Yutaka Yoshizawa and the Secretary for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Republic of Kiribati, Ms. Tessie Lambourne will sign the Exchange of Notes formalising Japan’s assistance, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration office, in Tarawa, at 10:00 am on Wednesday 29th June, 2011.

A grant of JPY 52 million (approx. Aus$630,000.00) was made available for the detailed design of the project for expansion of Betio Port in November 2010. Following completion of detailed design, construction works on extension of Betio will cost the Government of Japan JPY 3 billion and 52 million (approximately Aus $36 million. This assistance is in addition to the aid given in 2000, whereby, the Government of Japan’s Grant Aid comprised of a wharf of 6.0 metre water depth and 80 metre extension, container yards of 17000m2 area, an administration office, the container freight station and related facilities was implemented. However, due to increased volume of imported containerised cargo transported by medium-sized container ships, of which draft is 8 to 9 metres, it often faced difficulties in berthing alongside the existing wharf to load and unload cargo at existing wharf depth of 6.0 metres. The Project for Expansion of the Betio Port will include deepening water depth from current 6.0 metre to 9.0 metre by extending the pier to offshore with provision of new cargo-handling equipment. 

It is envisaged that the expansion of Betio port will ensure improvement of the above situation and enhance trade and cargo handling efficiency at the wharf.

Japan’s assistance follows a request from the Government of the Republic of Kiribati in 2006 to develop the pier for medium-sized vessels of 9.0 meter water depth and provide cargo handling equipment. Following a preliminary study conducted by a Japanese study team in 2007 and Basic Design Study in 2008 to 2009, the Government of Japan decided to provide the grant aid under its bilateral development assistance programme to Government of the Republic of Kiribati. This grant aid is in line with Japan’s objective to provide sustainable and constructive support for the development of projects that contribute to the improvement of wharf facilities and promote socio-economic development.