BY SHOREYANN RAGOSO
The Friendship Hall, a multipurpose futsal stadium complex in Honiara continues to bring people together through sports, cultural activities, religious gatherings and national events, showing the strong friendship between Solomon Islands and Indonesia.
The hall, funded by the Indonesian government, was officially opened by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, marking a promise made in 2008.
This was highlighted during a billboard handover ceremony at the main entrance of Friendship Hall, attended by Indonesia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Okto Dorinus Manik, and representatives of the National Sports Council.
The ceremony marked another important step in the close relationship between the two countries and their commitment to strengthening cultural and people-to-people connections.
Commissioner Manik said he hoped the hall would become more than a symbol of friendship between Indonesia and Solomon Islands. He wanted it to serve as a lasting cultural property for the Indonesian community.
“This is not only a symbol of friendship,” Manik said. “We hope we can make this building and this hall become a cultural property of Indonesia.”
His remarks reflected Indonesia’s desire to strengthen cultural links and maintain the partnership between the two countries for future generations.
National Sports Council Chairman Joe Sika welcomed the Indonesian delegation to the facility, describing Friendship Hall as a symbol of friendship, unity and progress.
“Thank you for your friendship, thank you for your support, and thank you for making the time to visit this facility and see for yourselves what it has become,” Sika said.
He explained that Friendship Hall is the largest and most modern indoor facility in Solomon Islands. It was funded by the Government and people of Indonesia and officially handed over before the 2023 Pacific Games.
Since then, the hall has played an important role in national life, hosting major sporting competitions, religious gatherings, university graduation ceremonies and the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
It has also hosted basketball and netball events during the Pacific Games, the Melanesian Cup basketball tournament and weekly community futsal competitions.
“Leaders, worshippers, graduates, athletes and local players, all in one building. That is what a true national facility looks like,” Mr Sika said.
He assured the Indonesian delegation that the National Sports Council would continue to maintain the facility and make full use of it for the benefit of the public.
Mr Sika said the hall would remain “a beacon of progress and unity” for the country.
He added that major facilities such as Friendship Hall showed how cooperation between nations could deliver lasting benefits to local communities.
Solomon Islands values its relationship with Indonesia as part of the Melanesian family and the wider Pacific region, he said.
Mr Sika expressed hope that the visit would create more opportunities for sporting, cultural and community exchanges between the two countries.
“To our Indonesian friends, please walk through the Hall, meet our people, and see how your friendship is being utilized,” he said.
The ceremony served as a reminder that Friendship Hall is not only a sporting venue but also a shared space where people from different backgrounds can meet, celebrate and build stronger relationships.
The Friendship Hall, a multipurpose futsal stadium complex, has significantly strengthened Indonesia’s ties with the Solomon Islands. It serves as a venue for the 2023 Pacific Games and is designed to accommodate various indoor sports, including futsal, basketball, netball, volleyball, and badminton. The hall’s construction was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic, symbolizing resilience and collaboration between the two nations. The Friendship Hall is not only a venue for sports but also a symbol of friendship and opportunity, reflecting the shared goals of both countries in building a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
