SICCI AND PNGSIBC Inc. SIGNS MOU

HONIARA-SOLOMON ISLANDS---THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) on Thursday 16th of October, 2025 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands Business Council Inc. (PNGSIBC) in Honiara .

SICCI Chair, Ms Namoi Kaluae said the “MOU” aims to provide a platform for dialogue between SICCI and PNGSIBC, networking and innovation, collaborations to opening new avenues for trade and investment and, also enhance high level collaborations between parties not limited to involvement of government of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Ms Kaluae The MOU affirmed SICCIs desire to work together in partnership with PNGSIBC to look into areas of mutual interest to address private sector concerns and promote effective collaboration between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea private sector.

“In the bigger picture we always try to think how this MOU will help us as a country. But first off help our businesses which in the long run will also help our communities.

“This MOU will really support us by way of advocating for policy making. This is where this MOU is and it will make it easy for us to reach out to PNG Business Council so they can connect us to the platform and the right space we need or take support from.

“We are very happy to have this MOU with PNG. We have shared challenges, aspirations and through this MOU it will help us have the connection where will make it easy for us to reach out and enable both countries,” Ms Kaluae adds.

SICCI Vice Chair Mr Gordon Denty also shared the same sentiments saying this is a great opportunity for both countries and SICCI is very happy with the MOU signing.

“While we do have trade agreements between the countries, the implementation of it is something else. But this is something between business to business and I think it is definitely an opportunity for both countries and we are very happy about it,” he said.

PNGSIBC President, Ernie Gangloff said the “MOU” recognize the immense possibilities of improving economic and private sector collaborations between Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and have agreed to work together as parties (PNGSIBC & SICCI) under this “MOU”.

“The MOU will also enhance collaborations towards Public Private Partnership. Both parties understands that private sector is the engine of growth, and the constraints impeding private sector growth requires economic partnership and collaborations between the Parties.

“The scope of collaboration under this MOU will allow both parties the opportunity through continuous dialogue and collaborations to exchange investment opportunities and explore co-investment potentials and other services relevant to private sector business growth,” he said.

Through this MOU both parties may also consider collaborations in the following priority sectors: Agriculture; Tourism; Infrastructure; Financial services; Retail; Healthcare; Technology and innovation as well as other challenges within the private sector environment.

Roles and Responsibilities under this MOU both parties to:

- Engage in dialogue, networking and collaborations on issues of mutual interest to the private sectors of both Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

- Work together to create a more favorable business environment by fostering collaborations and identifying solutions to challenges within private sector business environment.

- Use the MOU platform as a strategic platform for private sectors both Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to engage more deeply in facilitating practical opportunities for trade, investment and innovations.

- Use the MOU platform, in support of other existing platforms (SIG-SICCI MOU) to advice the Government of Solomon Islands on matters related to the development of private sector and potential area of needs for policy and legislative initiatives for the benefit of public private partnership opportunities.

SICCI and PNGSIBC Inc. meanwhile will be working together to host their first forum in the first quarter of 2026.