The “Data Collection Survey on Port Development in the Republic of Kiribati,” which OCDI launched in April 2024 based on a contract with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was completed in February 2025.

Kiribati is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean comprising 33 atolls.  Approximately half of its total population of 130,000 (2022) lives in South Tarawa, located in the Tarawa Atoll, where Betio Port is located.

Betio Port is the largest international port in Kiribati, handling foreign trade cargo, and plays an important role as a hub for domestic maritime transport, connecting the scattered islands. The port was improved in 2000 with grant aid from Japan, which included the construction of a wharf, a container yard, and related facilities and equipment. In 2007, the revetment was repaired and reinforced, and in 2014, a mooring pier and a connecting bridge were constructed and cargo handling equipment was installed.

Since then, Betio Port has played a crucial role as a vital piece of national infrastructure. The Kiribati government has continued to position the port sector as a key component of national development in the long-term national development plan (Kiribati 20-year Vision 2016-2036) and medium-term national development plan (Kiribati Development Plan 2020-2023),

According to the Kiribati Port Authority, it has become necessary to improve Betio Port facilities due to the aging and shortage of the wharf, a shortage of container yard space, and insufficient transport capacity of the connecting bridge.

The Australian government has been conducting a diagnostic survey and master plan study for Betio port through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP). When examining possible components of Japan’s assistance for Betio Port, it is necessary to ensure consistency with this master plan study.

Information on the situation surrounding Betio Port was collected, and a list of potential projects and a priority project were proposed, considering the possibility and necessity of JICA cooperation, including grant aid.

Click here for OCDI’s current main projects.