Solomon Islands is one of the many countries well known for its cultural arts and crafts.

Speaking with one of the jeweler at the Central Market, Jay Silver from Marau area of West Guadalcanal, said apart from the cultural aspect, making jewellery is his interest.

Mr. Silver creates necklaces, rings, bangles and also house decorations.

"My interest in making custom designs in jewellery goes back long time ago, and I picked on the market after a foreigner visited our village and introduced the right equipment to use," he told Solomon Times.

Mr. Silver said that now, it is easy for people with the similar interest to kick start a business because of new technology, new skills and new equipment.

"Long ago, people found it hard to make their own crafts because there were no proper equipments at that time," he added.

Mr. Silver said his little business earns him SBD$500 to SBD$600 each week.

"Even though it is very small, I am earning money with what I create and it helps me with paying power supply," he added.

Asked on the competition in Honiara, Mr. Silver said that the Central Market is the best pick.

"Sometimes it is hard to find a place to do my selling, but the competition around the main market is not very high," he said.

Mr. Silver told the Solomon Times that when starting his business, he collected shells from the reefs, "now we buy them from other people and it is very expensive".

But the optimistic jeweler said that he is happy with his little business because it has attracted tourists which is a good thing.

His long term goal is to see a bigger business to help his family.