Economy Archive May 2023

The Lepi Rest House is one of the two projects under the Gao/Bugotu Constituency handed over recently to the community in Lepi.

Gao-Bugotu Constituency Office Hands Over Community Projects

The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) has commended Gao-Bugotu Constituency (GBC) office under the leadership of the Member of Parliament Hon. Samuel Manetoali for delivering meaningful developments in Gao-Bugotu rural communities with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Marovo Constituency Office under Hon. Chachabule handed over eight (8) DF70hp Suzuki and 4 stroke Out Boat Motor engines (OBMs) to support the work of five (5) Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church Districts and three (3) United Church circuits in Marovo.

Marovo Constituency Office Applauded for Supporting Churches

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) has the congratulated Marovo Constituency Office (MCO) for its ongoing support to churches for the furtherance of the Gospel.
“BSP is proud of our Pacific Heritage – our home is the Pacific and we will continue to support the Pacific Community through our community projects and our sponsorship programs,” says BSP Country Head, Ms. Sandra Fore.

BSP is Bronze Sponsor for Pacific Games

Bank of South Pacific (BSP) is officially the Bronze sponsor of the Sol2023 Pacific Games to be hosted in Honiara, Solomon Islands later this year.
Since January 2023, new surcharges to existing departure fees, now apply to the National Career significantly adding to operational costs for the 10 Government Airports, Honiara International Airport and Munda International Airport.

New Airport Surcharge Fees Effective on 1st June

Solomon Airlines has confirmed the introduction of new airport surcharge fees effective from 1 June, 2023 to help cover rising international and domestic airport costs including increased landing and lighting fees at Solomon Islands airports.
The sponsorship valued at $5.1 million dollars (SBD) makes SPO the Games first Gold Sponsor, and the official fuelling partner of the Sol2023 Pacific Games.

South Pacific Oil is Pacific Games Gold Sponsor

The South Pacific Oil Limited (SPOL) has officially been announced as the Gold Partner-Sponsor of the Sol2023 Pacific Games to be hosted in Honiara, Solomon Islands later this year.
Head of the Eye Department, National Referral Hospital, Dr. Carole Poloso explained that the training is important as it will equip staff with skills for their outreach programs.

REC Staff Trained on Basic Public Relations Techniques

Regional Eye Centre (REC) staff at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and stakeholders were trained on the 26th of May on how to collect information in the field when rolling out their eye health programs for news articles, social media postings and donor reporting.
The WRD programme aims to reduce the disproportionate impact of disasters on women and girls, in all their diversity, by strengthening their resilience and capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

Women’s Resilience to Disasters Programme Launched

A new programme to bolster women’s resilience and leadership for sustainable, secure and thriving communities in the Solomon Islands, in the face of disasters has been launched.
The meeting gathered representatives from six local UXO companies including Solsearch, SIEOTEC, Safe Signals, SI Battle Area Clearance, SRX and Clear Grounds.

Government and UXO Companies to Forge Partnership

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Karen Galokale hosted a meeting with local Commercial UXO companies to explore ways to partner in getting rid of deadly WWII Unexploded Ordnances in the Solomon Islands.
Solo the Mascot were amongst the Games Merchandise samples provided by Ausmart Company Limited.

Ausmart to be Games Official Merchandiser

The Ausmart Company Limited has been announced as the Official Merchandiser for this year’s Sol2023 Pacific Games.
The IBP concrete can be seen along the stretch of the road in the Honiara centre behind the Point Cruz Hot Bread Kitchen, piloted in 2020.

Interlocking Block Pavement Project Introduced

The Interlocking Block Pavement (IBP) Project, supported by Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA), is starting its activities to introduce IBP as a new pavement standard in Solomon Islands.
Representatives from MOFT, MECDM, and MNPDC at the Climate Budget Tagging workshop in Honiara.

Climate Budget Tagging Reforms Initiated

Solomon Islands recently launched a Roadmap of Reforms for enhancing access to climate finance and improving public sector spending.
For the current population, Solomon Islands only has 300 primary health care clinic, with the majority in the rural areas manned by only one or two staff.

Primary Health Care is Backbone of the Health System

The Solomon Islands Health Permanent Secretary Mrs. Pauline McNeil commends Commonwealth for its continuous encouragement for member states to invest more in Primary Health Care as the best health care strategy for achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Participants for the three days training included lab technicians from from hospitals in Malaita, Makira, Temotu, Choiseul, Helena Goldie and Atofi.

Medical Lab Technicians Acquire License for Medical Clearance Airfreighting

Around seven provincial medical lab technicians in the Solomon Islands received training and have successfully acquired license to clear dangerous goods and infectious substances for air freight (or airlift).
“The decision to drop COVID-related entry requirements showcases the Solomon Islands as a welcoming and traveler-friendly destination," said Tourism Solomons CEO (acting), Dagnal Dereveke.

Solomon Islands Lifts COVID Entry Requirements

Effective immediately, the Solomon Islands has lifted all COVID-19 related requirements and travelers to the destination no longer need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or COVID-19 test.
These students are now able to access safe drinking water from the school standpipe, provided by the CBSP water supply program.

Tina Schools Access Safe Drinking Water and Electricity

Two schools within the Mbahomea region of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project (TRHDP) catchment are now able to access water and electricity, thanks to the Community Benefits Sharing Project (CBSP).
Critically it was highlighted that the increasing daily threats of climate change continue to have an impact on the health of countries, their communities and their loved ones, and this needs collaborative action from all across health, finance, environment and climate ministries.

Commonwealth Health Ministers Pledge to Work Together

Solomon Islands join other Commonwealth Health Ministers and Heads of Delegation to reaffirm their commitment to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and ensuring the most vulnerable and marginalised have equal access to health services across the 56 member countries by 2030.
Hon. Culwick will be delivering the country statement on the theme of “WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all” delivering interventions on global strategy on women, children and adolescent health, substandard and falsified medical products, strengthening rehabilitation in health systems, amongst other agenda.

Minister of Health and Officials Attend World Health Assembly

The World Health Assembly is the decision making body of WHO and hosts annual conference in Geneva, Switzerland, with the main functions to determine the policies of the organization, appoint the Director General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve proposed programme budget.
The new partners to the SAFENET network are the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP); the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration; and the Honiara City Council Women’s Development Division.

SAFENET Welcomes New Partners

Another milestone has been achieved for SAFENET, the Solomon Island’s national multisector gender-based violence service delivery system led by the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Solomon Islands. with key multisectoral partners.
The Regional Directors of Women Learning Exchange is an outcome of the Regional Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Services Symposium, which was also supported by the Pacific Partnership.

Honiara Hosts Regional Director of Women Learning Exchange

The Government of Solomon Islands is currently hosting Directors of Women from 13 Pacific Islands Countries at a Regional Directors of Women Learning Exchange from 21 – 25 May 2023.
Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Delegations to the SI-Vanuatu Bilateral Senior Officials Meeting in Vanuatu.

SI-Vanuatu Bilateral Senior Officials Conclude Meeting in Torres and Banks Province, Vanuatu

Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Senior Government Officials have successfully conducted the SI-Vanuatu Bilateral Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) at Rah Islands, Motavala, Torres and Banks Province, in Vanuatu from Thursday 11th to Saturday 13th May 2023.
Through the engagement with the World Vision project, teachers and medical practitioners helped to identify children with different impairments for further medical assessment at the National Referral Hospital.

Impaired Children Benefit from World Vision Project

Thirteen impaired children from seven schools in Santa Cruz, Temotu Province, have benefited from World Vision's Pikinini Rural Inclusive, Care and Education (PRICE) Project's arrangement for a medical checkup at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Bilateral discussions covered areas on: SI-PNG security, Policing, the 2023 South Pacific Games, High Education, Trade, Cultural Exchanges/People-to-people interactions, among others.

Sogavare Meets With Marape at the Margins of FIPIC

Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare MP, had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Hon James Marape in the margins of the One day Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC).
RSIPF Commissioner Mr. Mostyn Mangau and Auditor General David Dennis with the signed MOU.

Auditor Generals Office and Police Sign MOU

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and the Solomon Island Office of the Auditor General (OAG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Office of the Auditor-General in Honiara on Friday May 19 2023.
Deputy Prime Minister Maelanga farewells the Prime Minister yesterday.

Sogavare Leaves For Forum Meeting With India

Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare left yesterday to attend the third Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation, (FIPIC III Summit).
Although the Pacific fisheries contribute significantly to local economies and food security, there is a deficit in knowledge about their value.

The Search is on for the Best Tuna Dish in the Pacific

Finding the Solomon’s best Tuna Fish Dish is a focus of Tuna Bites, a live cooking competition that will take place on Friday 26th May at the Coral Sea Resort from 4pm.
The support by Japan is for the procurement of a landing craft to support the work of the Explosive Ordinance Unit (EOD) of the RSIPF.

Japan to Support UXO Removal

Solomon Islands and Japan signed Exchange of Notes to pave the way for Japan to assist the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in their ongoing work to safely remove and dispose UXOs in the country.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Collin Beck signing the outcome document with the head of the Vanuatu delegation, Director General of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, Kalfau Kaloris.

Vanuatu and Solomon Islands Discuss Border Arrangement Agreement

Work on reaching a broader overarching Bilateral Border Agreement between Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have begun following a successful Senior Officials meeting between the two countries recently on Rah Island, Motalava, Vanuatu.
The oxygen plant will boost the country’s access to life-saving medical oxygen with production capacity of around 500,000 litres of medical oxygen daily or 74 (50 liters) oxygen cylinders per day.

Hospital Receives New Oxygen Plant

A new oxygen plant was handed over this week to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU).
Strongim Bisnis will support the six employers to provide a three-month paid internship to each of the nine candidates during this pilot with the possibility of a longer-term contract after the initial experience.

Inclusive Employment Pilot Program Launched

Nine Solomon Islanders living with disabilities have been selected for internships with SolTuna, Kokonut Pacific, Fatboys resort, Dreamcast, World Vision and Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM), under a program created by Pasifiki HR with the support of Australia’s Strongim Bisnis program.
Australia's ‘Strength & conditioning (S&C) Coach / Powerlifting, Simon Bergner who is back in the country to help the nation's 'weights' athletes in trainings.

Australian Strength and Conditioning Coach Returns to Help Athletes

Simon Bergner, a strength & conditioning (S&C) coach from Australia, is back in the country at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) to work with athletes.
“To date we have received laboratory testing results measuring microbial growth in Jet A1 fuel from South Pacific Oil tanks, at Henderson Airport. SPO’s fuel supply system was not the source of the contamination,” Mr Kraus said.

Fuel Contamination Issue Examined

Solomon Airlines is working with regional fuel suppliers to continue examining the cause of fuel contamination which grounded the airline’s single Airbus A320 international aircraft last month.
"With a fast growing population, the number of nurses need to increase with appropriate postings to accommodate varying needs across the country."

Progress and Challenges of the Nursing Profession

Health services in Solomon Islands began with the missionaries who first brought the gospel of Jesus Christ to the islands and today nursing in Solomon Islands has grown to become a profession that is much relied on for the delivery of health services.
“With the full installation of the water supply system here, I will no longer travel far to collect clean water for drinking and cooking using my wheelbarrow,” says Alphonse Bua.

Water Systems in Tina River Area Near Completion

Work on the Community Benefit Sharing Project (CBSP) water supply systems for various communities in the Tina River Hydropower catchment area is nearing completion.
The visit by World Bank, WHO and MHMS offered perfect opportunities for the team to observe the hospital, listen to concerns and experiences of the Provincial Executives, staff and patients.

Tulagi Hospital to Receive Upgrade

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) with funding support from the World Bank is ready to kick off renovation and upgrade work of Tulagi Hospital in the Central Islands Province.
She said the success did not come overnight, it took many years for her to build her own network and trust amongst farmers and build a loyal customer base.

The Princess of Market Resellers

By Jimmy Nolan
She is a modern-day princess but of a different kind.
Mr Djokovic was high profile on the Solomon Islands politic scene, serving as Chief of Staff to the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Tourism Solomons Mourns Passing of Board Chair

The close-knit Solomon Islands tourism industry and wider South Pacific tourism community is in mourning following the sudden death of Tourism Solomons Board Chair, Robson Tana Djokovic, who has passed away in Honiara.
The New Toyota Land Cruiser now on its way to Malaita Province.

Atoifi Hospital Takes Delivery of New Vehicle

For many working in the urban centres, the importance of having office vehicles to carry out work may not be much of a big deal, as they are often in adequate supply and also the availability of public transport.
Mr Rothmaier said the award highlights what local Solomon Islands talent can deliver with the right support and development programs.

SolBrew Lager Gets a Gold Monde Award

Solomon Breweries iconic SolBrew Lager bottle gets gold at the 2022, 61st Monde Selection Awards.
“As soon as we are able, we will bring back our Dash 8, and will do our best to limit any inconvenience to our passengers,” said Mr Gus Kraus CEO of Solomon Airlines.

Upgrades to Munda Runway Disrupts Flight Schedules

Solomon Airlines is alerting passengers to an interim change to flight operations to and from Mundadue to current works to upgrade the Munda Airport runway.
In this year’s Press Freedom Day, the MASI executive says the theme emphasizes the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

MASI Celebrates World Press Freedom Day

The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) joined thousands of media personnel around the world yesterday in commemorating Press Freedom Day.
“As an official sponsor, we will provide around $500,000 worth of Canned Tuna during the Sol2023 Pacific Games. This is roughly about 1,400 cartons of Tuna available to athletes and officials attending the Games," SolTuna Sales and Marketing Manager, Kenwood Harry said.

SolTuna An Official Sponsor of 2023 Pacific Games

SolTuna is the latest Official Sponsor of the Sol2023 Pacific Games.
Some of the PALM workers during the pre-departure briefing.

Trade Commissioner Warns PALM Workers Not to Abscond

The Trade Commissioner within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Mr. Barrett Salato has warned labour mobility workers not to abscond or breach their temporary work visa condition while in Australia.
The Solomon Islands government and civil society organizations are working to improve the country's response to rape cases. This includes increasing public awareness about sexual violence and encouraging victims to report incidents of rape, as well as improving training and resources for law enforcement and healthcare professionals.

Tackling the High Levels of Rape Cases in the Solomon Islands

By Samson Sade
Rape is a serious crime in the Solomon Islands, and the country has laws in place to prevent and punish sexual violence. Despite this, there are still unacceptably high incidences of rape cases being reported to police.
Doreen Biku selling cooked food at the central market in Honiara.

Market Vendor’s Earnings Pay for Her Children’s Education

By Jimmy Nolan
It may not seem like much, just a few makeshift stalls that is used to sell traditional homecooked meals. But with this Doreen Biku, a mother of three, has been able to put her children through formal education despite the hardships faced by market vendors.
FIJI TV will be providing Host Broadcast services in the form of crew and equipment to help cover the Games, in exchange for the Broadcast rights.

GOC, FIJI TV Announce Fiji Broadcast Rights for 2023 Pacific Games

The 2023 Pacific Games Organizing Committee (GOC) is pleased to announce that Fiji Television Limited (FIJI TV) has acquired the broadcast rights for the Sol2023 Pacific Games in Fiji.
Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon. Nestor Ghiro

Solomon Islands Marks World Tuna Day 2023

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and its stakeholders marked World Tuna Day with the theme “Our Tuna, Our Future”.
Central Guadalcanal Constituency Officer, Mr. Philip Naisa hands over the cheques to Constituency School fee Coordinator Joe Frazer.

Central Guadalcanal Invests in its Human Resource

Solomon Islands Central Guadalcanal Constituency (CGC) has invested a total of SBD$369,414.00 to support the development of its human resources for the year 2023.
Due to a Fuel Contamination issue, the Solomon Airlines only international aircraft has not been operational since last Thursday.

Solomon Airlines Grounds only International Aircraft

Solomon Airlines has apologised publicly for inconvenience caused to it’s international passengers, by grounding the airline’s Airbus A320 - its only international aircraft.

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