SI envoy thanks NIP fisheries college

SOLOMON Islands High Commissioner to PNG Bernard Bata’anisia has commended the National Fisheries College (NFC) in Kavieng, New Ireland, for providing fisheries training to Solomon Islands students.
Bata’anisia was in Kavieng last week where he visited the college and met with caretaker principal Matia Rikis, staff and Solomon Islands students.
Currently, nine Solomon Islands students are doing their second year of studies in bachelor of fisheries and marine resources studies.
During his visit, he thanked the PNG government for the support given to all Solomon Islands students attending colleges and universities in PNG and made special mention of the NFC due to important fisheries development taking place in the Solomon Islands. 
Bata’anisia said having trained graduates in the fisheries field is important for his country’s development as fisheries was an important sector for Solomon Islands. 
While at NFC, the high commissioner was briefed on its operations, activities and programmes.
Rikis said the NFC was the only school in the South Pacific and was pleased to host the nine Solomon Islands students this year for the fisheries programme.
He said students would be doing their six months practical attachment in the first six months of next year before returning for the second half of the year to complete their third year of studies. 
Bata’anisia thanked the college for enrolling the Solomon Islands students and looked forward to enrolling more students in the future.
Meanwhile, during the high commissioner’s meeting with the Solomon Islands students, he briefed them on the developments in their country and the students informed him that they were pleased and privileged to be attending the NFC and wished to thank the government for sponsoring their studies.
The college is a business group or division of the National Authority which is affiliated with
Papua New Guinea University of National Resources and Environment (formerly University of Vudal) to cooperatively run the fisheries and marine resources programme.