The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) met with a visiting delegation from the Australian Pacific Island Business Council (APIBC) in Honiara on Tuesday 1 November 2022 reemphasizing both parties’ goal to support and promote inclusive economic development and employment growth in the Solomon Islands.

A key item on the agenda is the resumption of the annual Australia – Solomon Islands Business Forum.

Since 2009 APIBC and SICCI have collaboratively held the annual Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum interrupted only by the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021. Both APIBC and SICCI are looking forward to this annual bilateral Business Forum resuming in 2023.

The SICCI Board recommended during the meeting for the business forum to be hosted in early 2023 in Queensland, Australia.

The APIBC visiting delegation included Ian Clarke, President, Australia Pacific Islands Business Council (Senor Consultant, Dentons), William Blank, Vice-President, Australia Pacific Islands Business Council (Business Development, Hall Contracting), Simon Gorman, Executive Committee, Australia Pacific Islands Business Council (Managing Director, Reeves International), Steve Hillyard, Executive Committee, Australia Pacific Islands Business Council (Pronto Software), Sophie Boucart, Chief Operations Officer, Johnstaff International Development (JID), Daniel Grey, General Manager, Hall Contracting, Justin Harris, Power Protection Industries. (Finn Pacific Group), Peter Hoek, Pronto Software and Luke Jackson, Pacific Islands International (Finn Pacific Group).

SICCI as member-driven organisation representative of the private sector in Solomon Islands is pleased to continue its relationship with APIBC through a MOU signed in 2021 as partners to promote growth in jobs, economy, and businesses.

This MOU represents a milestone in business relations between Australia and Solomon Islands.

From SICCI’s perspective, job creation for Solomon Islanders is an important aspect of its work and the Chamber is always looking forward to exploring more opportunities for business investment in Solomon Islands.

“There is a sense of desire for the country to realize its full potential across numerous sectors and the business forum with APIBC provides the opportunity for Australian businesses to tap into these sectors,” SICCI Chief Executive Officer, Ms Natalina Hong, said.

The private sector plays an important role in driving and growing the Solomon Islands’ economy, and as the peak body representing the private sector, SICCI strives to improve the ease of doing business in the Solomon Islands.

The Forum brings together senior Australian and Solomon Islands business and government representatives to hear and discuss information on current issues relating to doing business in the Solomon Islands.

The Australian Pacific Island Business Council (APIBC) is an independent not for profit incorporated association of Australian business with interests in the bilateral business relationship between Australia and Solomon Islands and more broadly in the Pacific islands region.

Membership of the Council includes a wide range of industry groups, from large corporations to small family companies. Some of the industries represented are: shipping, trading companies, freight forwarding, manufacturing, transport, airlines, accountancy/audit, management and business consultancy, insurance, building & construction, tourism, banking, petroleum, tobacco, food/confectionery, and legal services.