Brisbane, Australia – Mr. Gordon Denty, Vice Chairman of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), delivered a powerful welcome address at the 14th Australia-Solomon Islands Business Forum in Brisbane, outlining a clear vision for a partnership that transitions “from aid to enterprise, from assistance to investment, and from projects to prosperity.”

Under the theme “Connecting for Growth,” the forum brings together government and business leaders from both nations to strengthen economic ties.

In his remarks, Mr. Denty highlighted Solomon Islands' positive economic trajectory, with a projected growth of 2.7 percent in 2025 as reported by Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) 2025 Outlook, driven by agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, and ongoing infrastructure programs.

“This Forum stands as a symbol of enduring friendship — a platform where government and business, Solomon Islands and Australia, come together to reaffirm our shared commitment to prosperity, partnership, and opportunity,” Mr. Denty stated.

The address emphasized the critical role of the private sector as the engine of national progress, responsible for over 80 percent of formal employment. A central theme was the urgent need to prioritize local content in major development projects.

“Local content is national content,” Mr. Duty emphasised. “Every project implemented by local contractors, every worker trained, and every SME integrated into a supply chain strengthens our economic foundation.”

He outlined key advocacy points for SICCI, including: Implementing local-content thresholds in major projects; Simplifying procurement and business licensing for SMEs: Investing in skills and technical training and Sustaining public-private dialogue.

The speech also addressed trade and mobility, noting that Australia remains Solomon Islands' largest trading partner.

While primary exports like fish and timber anchor the relationship, Mr. Denty pointed to value-added products as the future. A significant call was made for Australia to ease business visa requirements and explore visa-on-arrival access for Solomon Islands entrepreneurs to foster a more "inclusive Pacific partnership."

Mr. Denty concluded with a five-point call to action for delegates: Deepen bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, agribusiness, and renewable energy: Institutionalise local content policy to centre Solomon Islanders in national development: Enable SME growth through improved finance access and digital connectivity: Promote labour mobility as a pathway for enterprise development and Strengthen regional business networks to build a Pacific economy on trust and shared growth.

The 14th Australia-Solomon Islands Business Forum is co-hosted by SICCI and the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council (APIBC) and runs from November 17-19, 2025.