Economy Archive March 2023

Site visit at the Huro hybrid solar farm by Permanent Secretary of the MMERE, Dr. Chris Vehe, and ADB’s Solomon Islands Pacific Country Office’s Unit Head Elmar Elbling.

Huro Hybrid Solar Farm to Reduce Reliance on Diesel Fuel

A recent combined mission including officials from the Asian Development Bank, Solomon Islands Government, and Solomon Power to Makira Ulawa Province was satisfied with work progress at the Huro Hybrid Solar Farm near Kirakira.
The soon-to-be-open AHC will improve health services including the work safety of the team of nurses serving in Manuopo once it opens.

Manuopo Area Health Clinic Near Completion

Work on the new Manuopo Area Health Centre (AHC) is nearing completion with around 4000 people within its catchment area to benefit from the new facility and the services to be provided once it opens.
Findings indicated the impact of the cyclone was minimal on all sectors. However, due to heavy rains associated with the two cyclones the main food crops on the island (Cassava and Taro) were damaged due to landslides.

Multi-Sectoral Assessment for Tikopia and Anuta Completed

Initial Damage Assessment (IDA) following reported damages caused by the recent double Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin has been completed in Tikopia and Anuta islands in the Temotu Province.
One of the deep freezer sets funded by the constituency with CDF for Hautahe Women Association under the income generating initiative. This set which cost about $59,000 include 6x350 watts solar panel including batteries.

East Are'are Constituency Supports Constituents to be Self Reliant

East Are’are Constituency (EAC) has set important targets in implementing its Constituency Development Fund (CDF) programme as it continues to empower constituents to be self-reliant.
RSIPF Airport Policing Operations Officer-In-Charge, Mr Paul Kalea, said before, during and after the games will be a busy period for the RSIPF and other stakeholders.

Security Preparations for 2023 Pacific Games Progressing Well

Security preparations at the Honiara International Airport for the upcoming South Pacific Games in November has been progressing and is positive.
Cabinet members during the presentation by officials from the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD).

Cabinet approves Constituency Development Policy, CDF Legislation Next

The National Government through Cabinet has endorsed the new Solomon Islands Constituency Development (SICD) Policy 2023-2032, a key policy framework that will lead to the amendment of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Act 2013 and regulations.
Seasonal work in Australia has helped thousands of families in the Solomon Islands through remittances.

15,000 Submissions Received for Seasonal Work in Australia

LMU has received more than 15,000 submissions from the recent Work Ready Pool recruitment drive.
The partnership aims to bring benefits to more than 100 registered smallholder households. It also employs 10 new full-time staff members of VATA (including three extension officers, one accountant and six band saw operators) and 12 new VATA casual workers.

Solomon Islands-Australia Economic Partnership Benefits Timber Smallholders and Creates Jobs

More than 100 households are expected to benefit from the provision of timber milling equipment to the country’s Value-Added Timber Association (VATA) under the -Solomon Islands- Australia economic partnership.
MRD Permanent Secretary, Dr Samson Viulu and the Japanese Ambassador His Excellency, MIWA Yoshiaki this week discussed possible areas of collaboration.

Constituency Development Fund Reform Agenda Gains Donor Interest

The reform work that is undertaken by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) are attracting Donors and international development partners who have shown interest to support the CDF Reform programme.
The Central Honiara Constituency funded the upgrade work through its allocated Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Kombivatu Road Receives Upgrade

The Solomon Islands Central Honiara Constituency in partnership with JED ENTERPRISE LTD and Abraham Eke and family have successfully upgraded the Kombivatu road, from the Island Bakery front to the Home Finance One housing estate.
Prime Minister Hon. M. Sogavare and Solomon Islands Honorary Consul to Japan Mr. Takahiro Kitano.

Solomon Islands Honorary Consul to Japan Pays Courtesy Visit to Prime Minister.

Solomon Islands Honorary Consul to Japan and President of KITANO CONSTRUCTION CORP, Mr. Takahiro Kitano paid courtesy visit to Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare MP.
Back row from left-right. Mr. Avix Manehava Hospital Driver, RN Eric Zama Kia AHC, Mr. James Datho Kia AHC Driver and Mr. Jonathan Liloro Bauro FC & Advisor-Buala Hospital, Center-RN Joseph Patolo and DoN-s Martin Gavira Isabel Province and Kids of Vageza Area, Kia Village.

New Motor Boat Engine Delights Villagers in Vageza in Kia Isabel

Children of Vageza, Kia in Isabel joined the excitement to receive the new outboard motor engine and boat for their Area Health Centre funded by World Bank.
“Today’s site visit is the opportunity to witness first-hand the great progress of this important project that will provide Solomon Islands’ growing youth population with access to quality education and training,” said ADB’s Solomon Islands Pacific Country Office’s Unit Head Elmar Elbling.

ADB Visits New USP Campus in Solomon Islands

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today led a media tour of the almost complete, expanded campus of the University of the South Pacific in Honiara which will provide students better access to higher education.
"Pests and diseases related to plant or animal products are often found in personal effects and cargo carried by travelling passengers,” said SPC Biosecurity Officer Riten Gosai.

Pacific Cooperation Needed to Manage Biosecurity Risks and Ensure a ‘Safe and Green’ Pacific Games

Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Plant Protection Organisation (PPPO) and Biosecurity Solomon Islands (BSI), have urged Pacific countries to ensure biosecurity travel precautions for the Pacific Games are being met to prevent pest and disease entry and spread into the region.
Training was facilitated by Dreamcast Theatre Group film producers, who guided the school children through camera work, script writing and scene production.

School Children in Solomon Islands Learn Filmmaking to Mark Commonwealth Day

British High Commission in Solomon Islands partnered with the local theatre group Dreamcast Theatre to train school children in filmmaking.
RAPPP members were joined by RSIPF and SIAF officers, staff from the Honiara City Council (HCC)’s Health Division and Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and an athlete from Solomon Island National Institute of Sport (SINIS).

Police Roll Out Copen Awareness Program in Schools

The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) and the RSIPF-Australian Federal Police (AFP) Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP) in cooperation with the National Community Police Department of the RSIPF has rolled out copen awareness programs in Honiara schools.
His Excellency British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru, Mr. Thomas Coward emphasized that corruption and money laundering are “complex issues” and they require “all stakeholders to come together to fight against money laundering and corruption.”

Transparency Dialogue to Counter Corruption in the Pacific

Officials and practitioners from the public and private sectors from seven Pacific islands countries, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, engaged in holistic policy and practical discussion, aiming to contribute to combating corruption, stemming illicit financial flows and preventing tax evasion.
Speaking at the grant signing, Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, HE. Miwa Yoshiaki says, providing essential infrastructures is one of the priority areas of the Grassroots and Human Security Project.

Japan Delivers SBD$2M for Rural Farmers in Malaita

The Embassy of Japan has delivered a grant assistance of over 2 million Solomon Dollars to the Ado Rural Farmers Association in Falake, Malaita Province.
ePhyto Capacity Building Project, Consultant, Peter Neimanis said ePhyto is a project developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to look at the electronic transfer of phytosanitary certificate data.

PACER Plus Assists in ePhyto Refresher Training for Bio-security and Local Exporters

A three-days refresher training on the use of electronic phytosanitary certificate (ePhyto) was held from March 1st – 3rd for local exporters and officers of the Bio-security division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
More than 40 participants from the ODPP, the RSIPF and the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), including several senior Solomon Islands Government officials

Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Training Conducted

Representatives of the Australian Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) recently travelled to Honiara, Solomon Islands, to deliver a mutual legal assistance training.
Women march through the streets of Honiara to mark International Women's Day 2023.

Today is International Women’s Day 2023

International Women's Day is an important global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements and contributions of women.
Sir Albert said Justice Talasasa comes with a wealth of experience, knowledge, understanding and maturity from a long and outstanding career in the legal sector to the Bench of the High Court and the High Court looks forward to his invaluable contribution.

Justice Talasasa Sworn in as High Court Judge

Justice Ronald Bei Talasasa was sworn-in by the Acting Governor General, Sir Albert Palmer at the Government House yesterday.
The training was designed to develop the response capacity of Emergency services in the Solomon Islands when dealing with emergencies such as earthquakes, tsunamis, building collapse and landslides.

Airport Fire and NDMO Joins RSIPF in Disaster Responder Training

A five-day Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) training course was conducted at Central Fire Station in Honiara recently.
Thousands are already in Australia under the scheme, thousands more have applied.

LMU Opens Phone Line to Check on Applications

The Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will establish phone lines to enable members of the public to enquire if their online/email submissions for the LMU recruitment drive is received by the office.
The country is not ready for graduation in 2024, as it has lost three critical years that were intended for wide and inclusive consultations on graduation and preparing a national Smooth Transition Strategy as well as to embark on initiatives that will enable a sustainable graduation.

Cabinet Approves LDC Graduation Extension for Solomon Islands to 2027

The Cabinet of Solomon Islands has endorsed the country position for an extension in the transition and preparatory period for Solomon Islands graduation from a Least Developed Country (LDC) status from 2024 to the year 2027.
The 13 participants in total ranged from school teachers, current sport coaches, former athletes as well as certified coaches level 1 and even 2.

SINIS Conducts Athletics Foundation Course

A two-day workshop on ‘Athletic Solomons Foundation Coaches Course’ was successfully completed this week Monday and Tuesday at Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS).
Minister Agovaka thanked the Government and good people of Japan for the support and assures them that Solomon Islands will continue to work together with Japan to promote and advance matters of mutual interests.

Japan Supports Solomon Islands With Medical Supplies and Equipment

The Government of Solomon Islands and Japan have signed off on a document of assistance that will see the procurement of much needed medical equipment urgently needed by the Solomon Islands Health sector.
The ‘Iumi Tugeda Holidays’ program was initially launched in March 2021 as a collaboration between Solomon Airlines, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Tourism Solomons, Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Public Service to create much needed traffic for local operators.

Tourism Solomons - ‘Iumi Tugeda Holidays’ Reboot Perfectly Timed

Tourism Solomons has roundly applauded Solomon Airlines’ decision to reboot its ‘Iumi Tugeda Holidays’ domestic travel program, describing the carrier’s move as perfect timing for a tourism sector “still very much in recovery mode.”
The shores of Honiara were pounded by massive waves, and the force was so strong a constituency owned vessel, VATUD Star, was pushed ashore.

Wild Weather Smashes Honiara

By Jimmy Nolan
Tropical Cyclone Judy may have left the shores of the Solomon Islands, but destructive winds and wild weather continues due to another cyclone, recently named Tropical Cyclone Kevin, located South of the Solomon Islands near Rennell Bellona province, and just outside the coral sea.
The Permanent Secretaries took their Oaths of Office and Oaths of Allegiance before the Acting Governor General in the presence of senior government officials and family members.

Permanent Secretaries Take Oath of Office

Three Permanent Secretaries have been sworn-in yesterday at Government House by the Acting Governor General, Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer following their re-appointments by the Government.
It was also identified that more than 800 submissions for the Work Ready Pool were sent to a non-existent address that has the letter ‘i’’ in front instead of ‘l’ (small L).

MFAET Warns Against Capitalizing on LMU Recruitment Process

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is urging the public not to capitalize on the current Labour Mobility Unit recruitment process for financial gains.
As of 1st March, the Phase One of the program will initially include holiday deals to 10 properties across Gizo, Munda, Seghe, Suavanao and Santa Cruz.

'Iumi Tugeda Holidays' Relaunched

The Solomon Islands National Carrier, Solomon Airlines has confirmed the relaunching of the popular ‘Iumi Tugeda Holidays’ program, together with industry partners and tour operators, to offer a new range of attractive and affordable holiday packages across the Provinces.

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