Solomon Islands private sector assessment launched in Brisbane and Honiara

The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands and other government representatives were among the large audience at the launch of the report in Brisbane.

Key findings and recommendations from Continuing Reforms to Stimulate Private Sector Investment were shared by the PSDI team at two launch events recently.

The report was presented in a session at the Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum in Brisbane, Australia, on 22 July. PSDI Lead Economist Paul Holden and Gender Specialist Vijaya Nagarajan presented it to more than 100 government and private sector representatives from both countries, including Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare; five senior Solomon Islands’ ministers; Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific Islands Concetta Ferriavanti-Wells; Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Andrew Byrne; and Central Bank of Solomon Islands Deputy Governor Gane Simbe.

The launch in Honiara generated a lot of coverage in local media.

In Honiara, PSDI hosted an event to present the report to government and private sector representatives at the Heritage Park Hotel on 26 July. Attendees included Solomon Islands’ Permanent Secretary of Finance, the Governor of the central bank, CEOs of major companies and SOEs, representatives from the chamber of commerce and the Government of Australia, and journalists. The event was widely reported on in the local media.

The report provides a snapshot Solomon Islands current business environment, with a particular focus on constraints to private sector investment and growth.

See news release and op-ed published in the Solomon Star.