BRISBANE, Australia – The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) extends its deep appreciation to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Jeremiah Manele, and the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Hon. Milton Dick MP, for their pivotal roles in opening the 14th Australia–Solomon Islands Business Forum.

The Forum—a flagship platform for advancing bilateral trade, investment, and private-sector collaboration—was energized by both leaders’ shared vision for a secure, prosperous, and business-driven future.

SICCI commended the commitment demonstrated by the two leaders, which set an ambitious and collaborative tone for the two-day event.

Prime Minister Manele reaffirmed the Solomon Islands Government’s dedication to strengthening an enabling environment for business-led growth, highlighting key priorities in infrastructure, productive sectors, and industry development. He also underscored the importance of deeper engagement between government and the private sector to identify investment priorities, foster joint ventures, and build long-term economic resilience.

The Forum additionally showcased a range of Solomon Islands manufactured products, demonstrating local industry capability and export readiness.

In his keynote address, Hon. Milton Dick MP outlined a comprehensive vision for the Australia–Solomon Islands partnership, grounded in mutual respect and shared aspirations. He reiterated Australia’s commitment to Pacific stability and emphasized that economic prosperity and security are inseparable, with the private sector serving as a vital engine for growth between the two nations.

Speaker Dick highlighted Solomon Islands’ strong economic potential across sectors such as education, infrastructure, financial services, and mining. He noted the positive momentum in trade, with Solomon Islands’ exports to Australia tripling in recent years, supported by duty-free and quota-free access under the PACER Plus agreement.

Australia’s partnership with Solomon Islands remains one of its most significant, with Australia committing close to a billion dollars in infrastructure support since 2019—creating many thousands of local jobs and ensuring benefits are shared with communities and businesses. He further noted the important contribution of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which has delivered substantial remittance flows and continues to strengthen household incomes and local economic activity.

In closing, Speaker Dick encouraged investors and business leaders to continue exploring new partnerships and opportunities throughout the Forum, reaffirming Australia’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation and supporting resilient, inclusive growth for both nations.

SICCI recognizes these opening statements as a strong endorsement of the private sector’s role and an important catalyst for meaningful dialogue on trade, investment, and long-term partnership over the course of the Forum.