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MOFA confirms Solomon Islands fund

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday confirmed a Solomon Islands report that Taiwan on Friday released US$1 million to help boost the island country’s telecommunications industry.

According to the Solomon Star, the money was presented by Taiwanese Ambassador George Chan (詹秀穎) as part of the compensation fund needed for Our Telekom, the country’s sole telecommunications company, to relinquish its monopoly.

Deputy spokesman James Chang (章計平) said the government based in Honiara had intended to break up Our Telekom’s monopoly over the industry in order to elevate the quality of the country’s telecommunication service by allowing other privately run companies to join the market.

Chang said the government sought Taiwan’s help to pay part of the compensation required to eliminate the monopoly, saying that Taipei agreed to step in after carefully evaluating the social benefits that such a move could have for the islands’ residents.

During the donation ceremony, Chan said he was pleased that the fund would help the people of the Solomon Islands enjoy “excellent access, extensive coverage, quality service and reasonably priced mobile services.”

Along with the US$1 million telecoms aid package, Chan also reportedly presented a separate payment of US$100,000 to Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua for two constituencies under the Millennium Development Fund.

The Solomon Islands have been a longstanding supporter of Taiwan, MOFA said, adding that Taiwan would stay firm to its commitment to help improve the welfare of the Solomon people.

In other news, MOFA said it was still verifying a news report that a Taiwanese businessman was fatally shot in the southern Philippines on Friday night. .

A Xinhua news agency report said a Taiwanese man surnamed Tsu was attacked and killed by two unknown gunmen near a shopping mall in the southern city of Cagayan de Oro.

Chang said the ministry has contacted the Philippine National Police for details of the alleged incident.
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