The Solomon Islands labour market is facing mounting pressure, with unemployment and youth unemployment continuing to rise.
The growing unemployment rate comes as Solomon Islands faces a rapidly expanding youth population, which is projected to reach around 200,000 by 2035-the highest in the Pacific.
This is according to the recently launched “Solomon Islands Economic Update” by World Bank.
Note: This TV News Package was first aired on 19/08/26.
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所罗门群岛的劳动力市场面临日益加剧的压力,失业率和青年失业率持续上升。
随着所罗门群岛的青年人口迅速增长,预计到2035年将达到约20万人——这是太平洋地区最高的。
这是根据世界银行最近发布的《所罗门群岛经济更新》得出的结论。
Note: This TV News Package was first aired on 19/08/26。
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BY JOSES SAREN
Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) has called for the immediate dissolution of three private mineral holding companies set up under the GREAT government’s mining reforms, citing conflict of interest and the exclusion of customary landowners from the process.
The watchdog issued the call yesterday, describing the arrangement as a form of “state capture” of the country’s mineral wealth.
TSI said the government’s formation of Solomon Islands Mineral Holding Ltd (SIMHL) and its two subsidiaries had sidelined customary landowners, who own 90 percent of the nation’s land, from any consultation before the companies were incorporated.
“This is not a reform for the people; it is the privatization of our national heritage,” TSI Executive Officer Ruth Liloqula said in the statement.
Ms Liloqula said the arrangement blurred the line between public duty and private profit, since the same leaders who make the laws also hold shares in the companies mining the resources those laws govern.
The statement noted PM Wale was originally listed with 50 percent of SIMHL, with Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo and Mines Minister Derek Manuari holding 25 percent each, as first reported by Island Sun on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister’s Office has since described the listing as an “honest administrative mistake,” and Company Haus records were amended on Wednesday evening to replace the three leaders’ names with their ministerial titles, with the shareholding percentages unchanged.
TSI also raised concern over the lack of any legal clarity on what happens to the shareholdings if the three leaders are voted out or reshuffled from their ministries.
The statement further warned that, under the current private company structure, mining profits risk being absorbed by operational costs and private dividends before any funds reach the public purse.
TSI cautioned against what it called the “false hype” around mining revenue promoted by external agencies including the World Bank, saying this hype has not been weighed against potential environmental costs.
The watchdog is demanding immediate public disclosure of SIMHL’s articles of incorporation and operational mandates.
It also called for an independent, arm’s-length National Wealth Fund managed by non-political experts to oversee all future mining dividends.
TSI further urged a halt to all mining-related legislative reforms until customary landowners are meaningfully consulted, the statement added.
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Honiara, Solomon Islands – The Parliamentary Opposition Group has rejected the Government and Attorney General’s explanations surrounding the registration of Solomon Islands Mineral Holding Limited (SIMHL), saying they raise serious questions about process, due diligence, legal authority and parliamentary scrutiny.
There is no such thing as a minor administrative mistake when dealing with the mineral wealth of Solomon Islands and the interests of its people.
SIMHL is not an ordinary private company. It is proposed as a vehicle for the State to participate in the country’s mineral resources. Such an undertaking requires proper legal authority, due diligence, scrutiny and a clear governance framework before the corporate structure is put in place.
AN UNACCEPTABLE “MISTAKE” FROM A GOVERNMENT OF THIS SIZE
The Opposition said the explanation of an administrative error is difficult to accept given the resources and expertise available to the Government.
“This is a Government with 58 political appointees, a full Cabinet and the full machinery of Government at its disposal. It also has a veteran lawyer serving as Attorney General. How does an undertaking involving the country’s mineral wealth get registered with significant errors and before Parliament has even deliberated on the proposed framework?”
The Opposition said correcting the Company Haus records may correct an entry, but it does not answer the more important questions of how the errors occurred, who authorised the registration, what legal advice was obtained and what due diligence was undertaken before the company was incorporated.
THERE IS NO APPROVED LEGAL FRAMEWORK YET
The Government initially described the incorrect Company Haus entries as an “honest administrative mistake”. However, the Attorney General has since explained that SIMHL was deliberately registered in anticipation of amendments the Government intends to make to the Mineral Resources Bill.
The Opposition said this explanation makes the matter more concerning.
“SIMHL was deliberately registered in anticipation of a provision contained in the Government’s proposed amendments, yet Parliament has not even deliberated on those amendments, let alone passed them. That is putting the cart before the horse.”
Whereas previous state entities like Solomon Tower Limited were created to manage already-authorized public infrastructure, SIMHL’s registration attempts to establish a corporate structure before Parliament has even passed the enabling laws required for its existence.
The Opposition said the provision establishing SIMHL was not part of the Bill as previously developed but is being introduced through the GREAT Government’s proposed amendments.
“Parliament should be allowed to scrutinise and decide on the proposed amendments before the Government proceeds with the corporate structure”.
THE TIMING REQUIRES EXPLANATION
The Opposition said the timing of the incorporation cannot simply be dismissed as an administrative matter.
The company was incorporated before Parliament had the opportunity to consider the proposed amendments and before the legal and governance arrangements for the State’s participation in mineral resources had been settled through the legislative process.
The Government must therefore explain who authorised the incorporation, the legal basis on which it was undertaken, what legal advice and due diligence were obtained, and why the company was registered before Parliament had considered the proposed amendments.
The Government must also explain why the Prime Minister and two Ministers were initially recorded as shareholders and what the final ownership and governance arrangements for SIMHL will be.
Most importantly, the Government must explain what safeguards will ensure that any company established to manage or hold the State’s interests in mineral resources remains accountable to Parliament and, ultimately, the people of Solomon Islands.
Correcting the Company Haus records does not resolve these questions.
THE OPPOSITION’S POSITION
Solomon Islands’ mineral resources are a national asset. Any structure established to manage, hold or participate in those resources must be created lawfully, transparently and through proper parliamentary scrutiny and due process, with the long-term interests of Solomon Islanders at its centre.
The Opposition will not accept the incorporation of a State mineral holding company as a matter already decided while Parliament has not yet had the opportunity to deliberate on the proposed amendments intended to establish its legal framework.
“The Government must account for the process, not simply correct the paperwork after the matter has been exposed. Solomon Islanders deserve a process that is transparent, properly scrutinised and conducted in the interests of the people.”
[ENDS]
– OPPOSITION PRESS
The post OPPOSITION REJECTS GOVERNMENT AND AG’S EXPLANATION OVER MINERAL HOLDINGS COMPANY first appeared on Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) .
SAVE THE DATE!
The 2026 Annual National Trade Fair is coming to Sinu, Panatina Village, Honiara, from September 7–14! 🎉
Discover Innovation. Celebrate Enterprise. Inspire Sustainable Development.
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📅 September 7–14, 2026
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BY IRWIN ANGIKI
The Prime Minister’s Office has ‘corrected’ details in the Company Haus registry of the Solomon Islands Mineral Holding Ltd (SIMHL) private company after reports yesterday shed light on discrepancies in the original.
Yesterday Island Sun reported on the original details in the SIMHL in the Company Haus registry which contained the names of Prime Minister Mathew Cooper Wale, Finance Minister Gordon Dasi Lilo and Mines Minister Derick Manuari. [See screenshots accompanying this story]
The names of the three leaders were stated as shareholders of SIMHL, with Mr Wale holding 50 percent shares, Mr Lilo and Mr Manuari at 25 percent each.
Original Company Haus SIMHL Shareholders details at 2.2pm Wednesday August 19, 2026
This record stayed on the Company Haus from August 11 until the changes yesterday evening, August 19.
Following publication of Island Sun’s story yesterday 6pm, the records on the Company Haus for SIMHL were changed. There is no statement in the registry to indicate these changes.
No changes were made to the entries for SIMHL’s subsidiaries – Solomon Islands Mineral Holding – Exploration Limited (SIMH-EL) and Solomon Islands Mineral Holding – Mining Limited (SIMH-ML).
The details for Shareholders of SIMHL were changed along with the Filing. Island Sun had screenshot the original shareholder details yesterday including a downloaded pdf copy of the Filing.
The details on the shareholders for SIMHL now state the titles (names removed) of – ‘Minister Of Mines, Energy, AND RURAL ELECTRIFICATION’; Minister Of Finance AND TREASURY’; and ‘Prime MINISTER’. The shares allocations remain the same – PM at 50 percent, Finance Minister and Mines Minister at 25 percent each.
Amended Company Haus SIMHL Shareholders details 9am Thursday Aug 20, 2026
Island Sun was informed by Company Haus that yesterday evening a team from the Prime Minister’s office had gone and instructed changes to be made to the details on the SIMHL Shareholders and Filing.
When questioned on the lack of transparency marked by no statement or notice to indicate the changes, Company Haus sources, who requested anonymity, declined to comment.
The Prime Minister’s Press Secretariat following questions sent it this morning, released a statement describing the affair as an ‘honest administrative mistake’.
The registration process follows the normal procedure used for State-Owned Enterprises (SOE), the statement said.
The statement said the prime minister should not even be included adding that this ‘will be rectified’.
Meanwhile, a political appointee at the Prime Minister’s office, who requested anonymity, told Island Sun earlier this morning that the registration of private companies – SIMHL and its subsidiaries – are to ‘kick start the process of creating a new SOE which will fulfill GREAT government’s planned reforms in the mining sector’.
“The minerals bill has not been passed yet that is why SIMHL is for the time being created as a private company, which will be converted into a SOE once the bill is passed in parliament,” the PA said.
On the matter of the names of PM Wale, Mines Minister Manuari and Finance Minister Lilo appearing as shareholders, the PA said it was an ‘error’.
“The names of the incumbents appearing on the shareholder records was an error in communication to the Company Haus which should not have appeared as it did. That is why we have corrected the records in the registry,” the PA said.
Yesterday concerns were raised after it was discovered that three companies had been registered and incorporated as private companies with Wale, Manuari and Lilo as the mother company’s (SIMHL) shareholders.
SIMHL was registered on August 6 and incorporated on Aug 11. SIMH-EL and SIMH-ML were both registered on Aug 6 and incorporated on Aug 12.
SIMHL sole director is Celsus Talifilu, the current special secretary to the Prime Minister (SSPM). Sole director for SIMH-EL is Mines permanent secretary Dr Chris Vehe. Directors of SIMH-ML are PS Vehe and former finance PS McKinnie Dentana.
Concerns surrounding the creation of private companies include questions of what steps to be taken once either of the shareholders – Wale, Lilo and Manuari – is no longer a member of government, reshuffled to another ministry, or voted out in the coming elections. Similar questions linger for the directors – Talifilu, Vehe, Dentana – if either loses office or fall out from grace of the ruling government.
Furthermore, since the companies are private, concerns say the shareholders and directors stand to enjoy personal benefits from the companies’ revenues – monies that are meant for the government and people.
GREAT mining reforms
Mines Minister Manuari had told parliament on August 7 that the GREAT government was embarking on reforms in the mining sector aimed at enhancing benefits for resource owners and government.
“GREAT Coalition Government has further strengthened the proposed Mineral Resources Bill through five strategic policy reforms that fundamentally redefine the manner in which Solomon Islands will govern, develop and benefit from its mineral wealth,” Manuari said.
“These reforms reflect the Government’s commitment to building a modern, transparent and nationally beneficial mining sector that promotes responsible investment while ensuring that the people of Solomon Islands receive a greater and more enduring share of the wealth generated from their natural resources.”
First of these reforms is a state equity participation framework overseeing the establishment of the SIMHL which should allow government statutory back-in rights of up to 25 percent equity in eligible mining projects.
This should enable “the State to benefit not only from royalties and taxation but also from dividends and long-term capital growth arising from successful mining operations”, Manuari told parliament.
The framework is also proposed to establish a mining equity participation fund to manage state equity interests and strengthen participation of customary landowners. It should also establish an independent national mineral assay laboratory for ore verification, mineral valuation, quality assurance and royalty verification services.
‘Back-in right’ refers to a statutory or contractual option that allows a party – government, state-owned enterprise, or an original property owner – to reclaim a specific equity ownership stake or working interest in a project after certain conditions, milestones, or cost recoveries are met.
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BY JOSES SAREN
Mineral exports, mainly gold, have overtaken logs as Solomon Islands’ dominant export, now making up 53 percent of goods exports, the World Bank says.
That is up from just 4 percent in 2019 while the share of logs fell from 70 percent to 16 percent over the same period, according to the World Bank’s first Solomon Islands Economic Update, released on Tuesday.
The report stated that mining output has risen nearly fourfold since 2021 while forestry and logging output has declined by 23 percent over five years.
The World Bank describes the shift as a transition between two extractive sectors rather than a broadening of the economic base with the report stating that mining is capital-intensive and generates only a fraction of the jobs that logging did.
From World Bank’s modelling, around 1,800 formal jobs are created annually by mining, a figure the Bank regards as significant given the size of the country’s small formal labor market.
Using a Macroeconomic Assessment of Public Investment Options framework, the World Bank projects that real GDP could be 70.7 percent higher on average between 2026 and 2040 compared to a no-mining scenario.
At full production, the mining pipeline could generate about SBD 3.6 billion in gross fiscal revenues, increasing overall government revenue by around 39 percent, the report states.
However, outcomes are highly sensitive to tax policy, the World Bank cautions.
World Bank said under a high-tax scenario for the gold sector alone, cumulative revenues from 2026 to 2028 could reach SBD 4,071 million.
Meanwhile, said under a low-tax scenario, cumulative revenues would fall to just SBD 380 million, a difference of SBD 3,691 million over three years.
The World Bank is calling for passage of the Mineral Resources Bill and engagement with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to help translate mining revenues into lasting public benefits.
It also recommends legislating a fiscal stabilisation fund, combining short-term price stabilisation and a long-term sovereign wealth fund, before major mining revenues arrive.
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BY JOSES SAREN
The World Bank is urging Solomon Islands to pass its long-delayed VAT Bill and Mineral Resources Bill as part of a wider push to strengthen the country’s fiscal resilience.
The recommendations feature in the World Bank’s first Solomon Islands Economic Update, released Tuesday, titled “Harnessing the New Roots of Growth”.
World Bank report that the VAT Bill, approved by Cabinet in June 2023 with a proposed 15 percent standard rate, is still awaiting resubmission to Parliament and that passing it would expand the tax base and reduce distortions in the current goods tax system.
The Mineral Resources Bill, intended to close loopholes in the outdated 1990 Mines and Minerals Act, also remains before Parliament, the report notes.
Also highlighted by the report is that tax exemptions currently amount to about 5 percent of GDP, with World Bank describing this as a significant structural revenue loss.
The bank is calling for a comprehensive, transparent review of all exemptions, alongside strict limits on new ones.
On spending, the World Bank recommends containing the public wage bill within a medium-term fiscal plan and tying salary adjustments to productivity and available fiscal space.
It also urges the government to rebuild fiscal buffers by setting aside part of any revenue overperformance, particularly from VAT implementation and mining revenues.
A minimum cash-balance target and transparent rules for drawing down reserves during shocks are among the measures proposed in the report.
On the private sector, the World Bank is pushing for swift passage of the Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises Bill and the Foreign Investment (Amendment) Bill.
The World Bank report said the latter would establish an Investment Promotion Authority and simplify investor entry.
The bank further noted that institutionalising reform ownership across administrations, rather than tying reforms to individual governments, would help reduce policy uncertainty and support investor confidence.
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BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) has called on the GREAT-led Executive Government to professionalise and disclose full details of its political appointments, warning the current scale and lack of transparency around the positions is “deeply concerning.”
On 19th August, TSI acknowledged the Government’s commitment to national development and recognised that political appointments are standard practice used by governments to help implement their policy agenda. However, the organisation said the Government has an urgent obligation to justify the roles, responsibilities and rising costs of its Political Appointees (PAs).
TSI said reports indicate 58 appointees currently sit within the system, many at the “superscale” level, describing the structure as a significant drain on limited public resources. The organisation pointed to the World Bank’s August 2026 Solomon Islands Economic Update, which it said warns of an uneven economic recovery, rising inflation, and cash reserves covering less than one month of government spending.
TSI said the public sector wage bill has nearly doubled since the pre-pandemic era, and argued the Government cannot justify an expanding political payroll at a time when the economy faces misallocated credit and concentrated growth, particularly if roles are being distributed as political favours among the six parties of the GREAT Coalition rather than allocated on the basis of technical expertise.
The organisation stressed it is not calling for political appointments to be abolished, but for the system to be immediately professionalised. TSI outlined a series of reforms it wants the Government to adopt, including clear job descriptions and measurable performance outcomes for every appointee, clarification on how PA roles complement rather than duplicate the existing machinery of government and the mandates of career public servants, and a shift toward merit-based selection prioritising professional competency over political, church or family affiliation.
TSI also called for full public disclosure of the total remuneration costs for all political offices, and the introduction of a performance monitoring framework to measure productivity and results.
The organisation said public concern is mounting as the number of PAs continues to grow, and that withholding official information allows speculation to thrive. TSI is urging the Government to publish the official number and names of all current Political Appointees, disclose each role’s Terms of Reference, reporting lines and remuneration package, and demonstrate the necessity of each position in achieving specific, measurable national development goals.
TSI said public money must yield public results, warning that a government which expands its own size at the taxpayer’s expense, without transparent outcomes, risks alienating the people it claims to serve. The organisation said transparency should not be seen as criticism, but as a basic requirement of good governance, and called on the Government to make political appointee roles public, accountable and result-oriented.
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BY CHARLES STENNETT
Fifteen Solomon Islands’ Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), are showcasing their locally made products in day 2 of the PNG-Solomon Islands Investment Conference currently underway in Honiara, proving that homegrown talents and innovations are central to shared economic growth.
The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) on its social media said the products range from handicrafts to processed food and everything in between.
It said these represents the spirit, resilience and creativity of the people adding that they are not just products but are building brands, creating jobs and contributing to the national economy.
SICCI said they are inviting delegates, investors and visitors to explore the SME exhibition, connect with the local entrepreneurs and see firsthand the quality and the diversity of what Solomon Islands has to offer.
The two-day conference with themed “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG-Solomon Islands Growth Corridor” brings together government leaders, investors and business representatives to explore opportunities in sectors including agriculture, fisheries, tourism, infrastructure, energy and financial services, with the aim to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries.
The Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands Investment Conference organised by SICCI and the PNG-Solomon Islands Business Council ends today.
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By Aaron Bunch of AAP in Perth Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX has retrieved a rocket that splashed down in...
The post Elon Musk’s SpaceX Recovers Rocket Off Christmas Island appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
The Government has clarified that the company haus entry for the Solomon Islands Mineral Holdings Company was the result of an honest administrative mistake.
In a statement today, the Government said the registration process follows the normal procedure used for State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), including the Solomon Islands Tower Company Limited and other SOEs, where shares are held under ministerial titles rather than in the names of individual office holders.
The statement adds even the Prime Minister should not be included and will be rectified.
However, the Government acknowledged that the company registration should have been carefully completed to avoid confusion and said the errors identified will be corrected.
The Government further clarified that the early registration of the company was undertaken in preparation for proposed amendments to the Mineral Resources Bill.
It said the corporate structure, governance arrangements and other details of the company will be clearly outlined in regulations.
“At the moment, the Register shows that the Company will use model rules. That will be changed to show that the Company will use owned-developed rules,” the statement said.
The Government said the necessary corrections will be made to ensure the company’s registration accurately reflects its intended ownership, governance and corporate structure.
Ends//
– Government Statement
The post GOVERNMENT CLARIFIES MINERAL HOLDINGS COMPANY REGISTRATION first appeared on Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) .
PM Wale lauds PNG investments here which total $1.8 billion
Prime Minister Matthew Wale has welcomed the growing presence of Papua New Guinea businesses in Solomon Islands, saying their investments demonstrate that “Solomons is investable.”
More than 50 Papua New Guinea companies are currently operating successfully in Solomon Islands across sectors including banking and finance, telecommunications, transport, logistics, hospitality and agriculture.
PNG companies have invested more than SBD $1.8 billion in commercial activities in Solomon Islands.
The Prime Minister made the remarks at the inaugural Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Investment Conference in Honiara.
Read the full story on Page 2.
Also in today’s edition
PM Wale major shareholder in private companies set up under GREAT’s mining reform — Page 3
Plus more national, political, economic, business, development, provincial, community and sports news inside today’s edition.
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韦尔总理赞扬巴新在此的投资总额达到18亿澳元
韦尔总理马修·韦尔(Matthew Wale)欢迎巴布亚新几内亚企业在所罗门群岛日益增长的存在,称其投资证明了“所罗门群岛是可投资的”。
目前,超过50家巴新公司在所罗门群岛成功运营,涉及银行与金融、电信、运输、物流、酒店和农业等多个领域。
巴新公司在所罗门群岛的商业活动中投资超过18亿所罗门元。
总理在霍尼亚拉举行的首届巴布亚新几内亚-所罗门群岛投资会议上发表了上述讲话。
请在第2页阅读完整故事。
Also in today’s edition
韦尔总理在GREAT矿业改革下设立的私营公司中是主要股东 — 第3页
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今天就获取《岛屿太阳》,了解塑造所罗门群岛的议题和发展动态。
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Island SunBusiness & Economy商业经济·2026-08-20Original ↗原文 ↗
The first-ever PNG–Solomon Islands Investment Forum is underway in Honiara, bringing together investors, businesses, government officials and development partners from both countries. The two-day forum follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2025 between the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Business Council. The forum focuses on strengthening bilateral trade, reducing trade barriers and promoting private...-sector growth in key areas including agriculture, tourism and infrastructure. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale are attending the forum, with discussions centred on shared opportunities, challenges and ways to strengthen economic cooperation. Speaking at the opening, Prime Minister Wale stressed the importance of practical solutions and creating new opportunities through cooperation between the two Melanesian countries. Watch Tavuli News_Current Affairs Program:https://youtu.be/dv5KitS7z88
SIWIBA LOOKS TO MAMA BANK MODEL TO BOOST WOMEN’S ACCESS TO FINANCE By ULUTAH GINA Solomon Star, Honolulu, Hawaii... The Solomon Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) is exploring the possibility of adapting lessons from Papua New Guinea’s women-focused banking model to improve access to finance and financial services for women entrepreneurs in Solomon Islands. The move follows a strategic meeting between SIWIBA and the PNG Women’s Micro Bank Limited, popularly known as Mama Bank, in Papua New Guinea, where the two organisations discussed opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and women’s economic empowerment. SIWIBA President Julie Gegeu Haro said the engagement was important as Solomon Islands continues to look for practical ways to help women establish, formalise and grow their businesses. “Access to appropriate financial services and financial education is critical for women entrepreneurs to establish, formalise, grow and sustain their businesses,” Mrs Haro said. The SIWIBA delegation, led by Mrs Haro, Vice President Dr Donna Marie Wate and Acting Chief Executive Officer Jessica Warahiru Rapeiasi, together with Government Officer Melinda Kii, met with the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of Mama Bank and its Project Manager last week at Port Moresby. The Mama Bank team shared its experience in providing financial services, financial education and business support specifically targeted at women. Established in 2010 as the PNG Women in Business Microfinance Institute Limited, the institution received its banking licence from the Bank of Papua New Guinea in May 2014, becoming the first women-focused licensed microbank in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region, according to SIWIBA. Mama Bank currently serves more than 95,000 clients and focuses on improving women's access to finance and financial literacy. For SIWIBA, the meeting provided an opportunity to examine how some elements of the Mama Bank model could potentially be relevant to Solomon Islands. Discussions covered women's access to finance, financial literacy, micro-enterprise development, savings and inclusive banking services. Mrs Haro said the purpose was not simply to learn from another financial institution but to identify practical approaches that could strengthen opportunities for Solomon Islands women. “We need to learn from models that are already working in the Pacific and identify what can be adapted to our own context,” she said. She said stronger partnerships between women's business organisations and financial institutions could help address barriers that prevent women from accessing finance and expanding their enterprises. The engagement also explored potential areas for future collaboration between SIWIBA and Mama Bank, including knowledge sharing, capacity building, financial inclusion and enterprise development. Mrs Haro expressed appreciation to Mama Bank for sharing its experience and said SIWIBA remained committed to building strategic partnerships that could create greater economic opportunities for women. “Our commitment is to strengthen opportunities for women entrepreneurs through strategic partnerships, capacity building and greater access to financial services,” she said. SIWIBA said it would continue discussions with Mama Bank and other relevant partners to explore opportunities for regional cooperation and women's economic empowerment. The association said lessons from the PNG experience could contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen women's participation in the Solomon Islands economy, particularly through improved access to finance, financial knowledge and business support. The meeting forms part of SIWIBA's broader efforts to build regional partnerships and identify practical solutions to help women start, formalise, grow and sustain businesses. Ends///
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
The GREAT government has created three private mineral holding companies as part of its reforms in the mining sector.
Prime Minister Matthew Wale is the major shareholder at 50 percent of the mother company called Solomon Islands Mineral Holding Ltd (SIMHL), with Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo and Mines Minister Derek Manuari at 25 percent each.
The sole director of SIMHL is the Special Secretary to the Prime Minister (SSPM) Celsius Talifilu. SIMHL was incorporated on August 11, 2026, and addressed to the Office of the Prime Minister, Company Haus records show.
Two other companies with similar names are registered with SIMHL as sole shareholder – Solomon Islands Mineral Holding – Exploration Limited (SIMH-EL) and Solomon Islands Mineral Holding – Mining Limited (SIMH-ML).
SIMH-EL was incorporated on August 12, 2026 and addressed to the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE).
The director for SIMH-EL is Permanent Secretary of MMERE Dr Chris Vehe.
SIMH-ML was incorporated on August 12, 2026 and shares the same address with SIMH-EL.
The directors of SIMH-ML are MMERE PS Vehe and former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Finance McKinnie Dentana.
Mines Minister Mr Manuari told parliament on August 7 that the GREAT government was embarking on reforms in the mining sector aimed at enhancing benefits for resource owners and government.
“GREAT Coalition Government has further strengthened the proposed Mineral Resources Bill through five strategic policy reforms that fundamentally redefine the manner in which Solomon Islands will govern, develop and benefit from its mineral wealth,” Manuari said.
“These reforms reflect the Government’s commitment to building a modern, transparent and nationally beneficial mining sector that promotes responsible investment while ensuring that the people of Solomon Islands receive a greater and more enduring share of the wealth generated from their natural resources.”
First of these reforms is a state equity participation framework overseeing the establishment of the SIMHL which should allow government statutory back-in rights of up to 25 percent equity in eligible mining projects.
This should enable “the State to benefit not only from royalties and taxation but also from dividends and long-term capital growth arising from successful mining operations”, Manuari told parliament.
The framework is also proposed to establish a mining equity participation fund to manage state equity interests and strengthen participation of customary landowners. It should also establish an independent national mineral assay laboratory for ore verification, mineral valuation, quality assurance and royalty verification services.
Back-in right refers to a statutory or contractual option that allows a party – government, state-owned enterprise, or an original property owner – to reclaim a specific equity ownership stake or working interest in a project after certain conditions, milestones, or cost recoveries are met.
The office of the prime minister and PS Vehe have not responded to questions furnished them earlier today.
Concerns surrounding the creation of private companies include questions of what steps to be taken once either of the shareholders – Wale, Lilo and Manuari – is no longer a member of government, reshuffled to another ministry, or voted out in the coming elections. Similar questions linger for the directors – Talifilu, Vehe, Dentana – if either loses office or fall out from grace of the ruling government.
Furthermore, since the companies are private, concerns say the shareholders and directors stand to enjoy personal benefits from the companies’ revenues – monies that are meant for the government and people.
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‘SOLOMON TAIYO HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF MY KITCHEN’: MARAPE
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has revealed his personal love for Solomon Taiyo, drawing a rousing response from the audience at the inaugural Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Investment Conference in Honiara.
Speaking at the conference, held under the theme “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG–Solomon Islands Growth Corridor,” Mr Marape spoke warmly about the locally produced canned tuna brand.
The PNG Prime Minister said Solomon Taiyo had been a familiar product in his household and revealed that both he and his wife enjoyed it.
He said Solomon Taiyo had “always been part of my kitchen,” prompting a strong and enthusiastic response from those attending the conference.
Mr Marape used Solomon Taiyo as an example of Solomon Islands’ manufacturing capacity and the products the country can produce for both domestic and regional markets.
He said the brand represented Solomon Islands manufacturing and demonstrated the potential for locally produced goods to become part of the wider Pacific market.
Solomon Taiyo is currently produced by Solomon Islands-based SoloTuna Limited at its tuna processing facility in Noro, Western Province.
Mr Marape’s remarks came as leaders from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands called for stronger investment and business links between the two neighbouring Melanesian countries.
The inaugural investment conference is focused on identifying opportunities for increased trade, investment and private-sector partnerships as both countries seek to build stronger economic ties.
End///...
‘SOLOMON TAIYO HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF MY KITCHEN’: MARAPE
巴布亚新几内亚总理詹姆斯·马拉佩在霍尼亚拉举行的首届巴布亚新几内亚-所罗门群岛投资会议上透露了他对所罗门泰优的个人喜爱,赢得了与会观众的热烈反响。
在以“从机遇到投资:建设巴新-所罗门群岛增长走廊”为主题的会议上,马拉佩先生热情地谈到了这一本地生产的罐装金枪鱼品牌。
巴新总理表示,所罗门泰优在他的家庭中是一个熟悉的产品,并透露他和妻子都很喜欢它。
他说,所罗门泰优“一直是我厨房的一部分”,引发了与会者的强烈和热情的反应。
马拉佩先生以所罗门泰优作为所罗门群岛制造能力的例子,展示了该国可以为国内和区域市场生产的产品。
他说,该品牌代表了所罗门群岛的制造业,并展示了本地生产的商品有潜力成为更广泛太平洋市场的一部分。
所罗门泰优目前由位于所罗门群岛的SoloTuna有限公司在西部省诺罗的金枪鱼加工厂生产。
马拉佩的发言正值巴布亚新几内亚和所罗门群岛的领导人呼吁加强两国之间的投资和商业联系。
首届投资会议的重点是识别增加贸易、投资和私营部门合作的机会,双方都希望建立更强的经济联系。
结束///...
Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Wale says indigenous businesses, women-led enterprises and young entrepreneurs must be at the heart of the growing economic partnership between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Addressing the inaugural PNG–Solomon Islands Investment Conference at the Heritage Park Hotel today, Prime Minister Wale said the benefits of investment must not be confined to urban centres or large corporations.
“Indigenous entrepreneurship is not a footnote to this conference, it is the point of it,” he said.
The Prime Minister said PNG companies should build partnerships with Solomon Islands businesses rather than simply operate alongside them.
He identified joint ventures, local supply contracts, technical training and pathways to local ownership as important features that should become normal parts of major investments.
Prime Minister Wale said indigenous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women-led enterprises and young entrepreneurs are the backbone of both economies because they create jobs, support families and keep wealth circulating within communities.
“Inclusive growth is not only socially responsible; it is smart economics,” he said.
The Prime Minister said economies where more people participate are stronger, more resilient and more sustainable.
He also linked inclusive economic growth to stability, saying every young person employed, indigenous business capitalised and community with a stake in growth contributes to a stronger foundation for peace and prosperity.
[end]
OPMC statement
The post PM Wale: Indigenous business must be at the heart of investment first appeared on Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) .
HONIARA, 18 August 2026 – Prime Minister Hon. Mathew Cooper Wale today urged Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to turn their long-standing Melanesian relationship into a “structured, bankable economic partnership” as he officially opened the inaugural PNG – Solomon Islands Investment Conference in Honiara.
Speaking under the theme “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG–Solomon Islands Growth Corridor”, the Prime Minister said the two countries must move beyond goodwill to deliver measurable economic outcomes for their combined population of over 11 million people.
Prime Minister Wale said PNG and Solomon Islands share more than a border.
“Trade across our islands was never a mere transaction. It was reciprocity. It was obligation honoured over generations. It was trust, banked and repaid,” he said.
“The wantok system that binds us is, in economic terms, social capital of extraordinary depth — networks of trust that lower the cost of doing business before a single contract is signed.”
The Prime Minister highlighted that more than 50 Papua New Guinea companies already operate in the Solomon Islands across banking, telecommunications, transport, agriculture and hospitality, with an estimated value of PGK 1 billion / SBD 1.8 billion.
“Capital goes where it expects returns. That figure tells the world that the Solomon Islands is investable,” he said.
He noted that new direct air connectivity, with the weekly Solomon Airlines service between Honiara and Port Moresby launched in July 2026, will further reduce the cost of moving people, ideas and capital. “Connectivity drives commerce,” Prime Minister Wale said.
Prime Minister Wale framed the partnership around three dimensions, including;
• Partnership for Growth: Diversifying beyond raw exports into agriculture, fisheries processing, tourism, renewable energy and digital services. “We seek private participation in commercial farming, agro-processing and export development,” he said.
• Partnership for Solidarity: Ensuring benefits reach indigenous MSMEs, women and youth. “Joint ventures, local supply contracts, technical training and pathways to local ownership should become normal features of major investments,” the PM stated.
• Partnership for Stability: “Stability is not imposed from outside; it is built from within, job by job, enterprise by enterprise. Let us redraw that map: from an arc of instability to an arc of stability and prosperity.”
The Prime Minister called for an end to extractive business models.
“It is time to look at new business models — models that process here, employ here, train here, and share ownership here. Models that respect our laws, our landowners and our custom, and treat tribal land not as an obstacle but as equity,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale said the groundwork is set with the MOU between PNGSIBC and SICCI signed in October 2025 and the Framework Agreement on Development and Economic Cooperation 2026-2030 signed with PM James Marape in Port Moresby in June 2026.
He urged conference participants to “move beyond discussion to implementation” and to create investments that lead to jobs and improve livelihoods.
“To PNG investors, my message is direct. Solomon Islands welcomes your capital, knowledge and experience. Come prepared to build long-term partnerships. Work with our businesses. Train our people. Respect our laws and landowners,” PM Wale said.
The Prime Minister concluded that the success of the conference will be measured not by speeches, but by “the investments that follow, the joint ventures established, the indigenous businesses that scale up, the jobs created, and the prosperity generated.”
The two-day conference is hosted by the Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands Business Council and the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
PM Wale Calls for “Melanesian Growth Corriddor” at Inaugural PNG-SI Investment Conference
HONIARA, 18 August 2026 – Prime Minister Hon. Mathew Cooper Wale today urged Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to turn their long-standing Melanesian relationship into a “structured, bankable economic partnership” as he officially opened the inaugural PNG – Solomon Islands Investment Conference in Honiara.
Speaking under the theme “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG–Solomon Islands Growth Corridor”, the Prime Minister said the two countries must move beyond goodwill to deliver measurable economic outcomes for their combined population of over 11 million people.
Prime Minister Wale said PNG and Solomon Islands share more than a border.
“Trade across our islands was never a mere transaction. It was reciprocity. It was obligation honoured over generations. It was trust, banked and repaid,” he said.
“The wantok system that binds us is, in economic terms, social capital of extraordinary depth — networks of trust that lower the cost of doing business before a single contract is signed.”
The Prime Minister highlighted that more than 50 Papua New Guinea companies already operate in the Solomon Islands across banking, telecommunications, transport, agriculture and hospitality, with an estimated value of PGK 1 billion / SBD 1.8 billion.
“Capital goes where it expects returns. That figure tells the world that the Solomon Islands is investable,” he said.
He noted that new direct air connectivity, with the weekly Solomon Airlines service between Honiara and Port Moresby launched in July 2026, will further reduce the cost of moving people, ideas and capital. “Connectivity drives commerce,” Prime Minister Wale said.
Prime Minister Wale framed the partnership around three dimensions, including;
• Partnership for Growth: Diversifying beyond raw exports into agriculture, fisheries processing, tourism, renewable energy and digital services. “We seek private participation in commercial farming, agro-processing and export development,” he said.
• Partnership for Solidarity: Ensuring benefits reach indigenous MSMEs, women and youth. “Joint ventures, local supply contracts, technical training and pathways to local ownership should become normal features of major investments,” the PM stated.
• Partnership for Stability: “Stability is not imposed from outside; it is built from within, job by job, enterprise by enterprise. Let us redraw that map: from an arc of instability to an arc of stability and prosperity.”
The Prime Minister called for an end to extractive business models.
“It is time to look at new business models — models that process here, employ here, train here, and share ownership here. Models that respect our laws, our landowners and our custom, and treat tribal land not as an obstacle but as equity,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale said the groundwork is set with the MOU between PNGSIBC and SICCI signed in October 2025 and the Framework Agreement on Development and Economic Cooperation 2026-2030 signed with PM James Marape in Port Moresby in June 2026.
He urged conference participants to “move beyond discussion to implementation” and to create investments that lead to jobs and improve livelihoods.
“To PNG investors, my message is direct. Solomon Islands welcomes your capital, knowledge and experience. Come prepared to build long-term partnerships. Work with our businesses. Train our people. Respect our laws and landowners,” PM Wale said.
The Prime Minister concluded that the success of the conference will be measured not by speeches, but by “the investments that follow, the joint ventures established, the indigenous businesses that scale up, the jobs created, and the prosperity generated.”
The two-day conference is hosted by the Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands Business Council and the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
HONIARA, 18 August 2026 – Prime Minister Hon. Mathew Cooper Wale today urged Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to turn their long-standing Melanesian relationship into a “structured, bankable economic partnership” as he officially opened the inaugural PNG – Solomon Islands Investment Conference in Honiara.
Speaking under the theme “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG–Solomon Islands Growth Corridor”, the Prime Minister said the two countries must move beyond goodwill to deliver measurable economic outcomes for their combined population of over 11 million people.
Prime Minister Wale said PNG and Solomon Islands share more than a border.
“Trade across our islands was never a mere transaction. It was reciprocity. It was obligation honoured over generations. It was trust, banked and repaid,” he said.
“The wantok system that binds us is, in economic terms, social capital of extraordinary depth — networks of trust that lower the cost of doing business before a single contract is signed.”
The Prime Minister highlighted that more than 50 Papua New Guinea companies already operate in the Solomon Islands across banking, telecommunications, transport, agriculture and hospitality, with an estimated value of PGK 1 billion / SBD 1.8 billion.
“Capital goes where it expects returns. That figure tells the world that the Solomon Islands is investable,” he said.
He noted that new direct air connectivity, with the weekly Solomon Airlines service between Honiara and Port Moresby launched in July 2026, will further reduce the cost of moving people, ideas and capital. “Connectivity drives commerce,” Prime Minister Wale said.
Prime Minister Wale framed the partnership around three dimensions, including;
• Partnership for Growth: Diversifying beyond raw exports into agriculture, fisheries processing, tourism, renewable energy and digital services. “We seek private participation in commercial farming, agro-processing and export development,” he said.
• Partnership for Solidarity: Ensuring benefits reach indigenous MSMEs, women and youth. “Joint ventures, local supply contracts, technical training and pathways to local ownership should become normal features of major investments,” the PM stated.
• Partnership for Stability: “Stability is not imposed from outside; it is built from within, job by job, enterprise by enterprise. Let us redraw that map: from an arc of instability to an arc of stability and prosperity.”
The Prime Minister called for an end to extractive business models.
“It is time to look at new business models — models that process here, employ here, train here, and share ownership here. Models that respect our laws, our landowners and our custom, and treat tribal land not as an obstacle but as equity,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale said the groundwork is set with the MOU between PNGSIBC and SICCI signed in October 2025 and the Framework Agreement on Development and Economic Cooperation 2026-2030 signed with PM James Marape in Port Moresby in June 2026.
He urged conference participants to “move beyond discussion to implementation” and to create investments that lead to jobs and improve livelihoods.
“To PNG investors, my message is direct. Solomon Islands welcomes your capital, knowledge and experience. Come prepared to build long-term partnerships. Work with our businesses. Train our people. Respect our laws and landowners,” PM Wale said.
The Prime Minister concluded that the success of the conference will be measured not by speeches, but by “the investments that follow, the joint ventures established, the indigenous businesses that scale up, the jobs created, and the prosperity generated.”
The two-day conference is hosted by the Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands Business Council and the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The first-ever PNG–Solomon Islands Investment Forum is underway in Honiara.
The two-day forum brings together the two Melanesian countries to explore investment opportunities and strengthen economic ties through private-sector development. Jeremy Gwao reports
Tavuli News - Solomon Islands
By John Chrisma
Solomon Star, Honiara
The inaugural Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Business Investment Forum has opened and is now underway in Honiara.
The historic event brought together government leaders, business representatives and investors from both countries to strengthen economic cooperation and identify new investment opportunities 19 August 2026.
Held at the Heritage Park Hotel under the theme “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG–Solomon Islands Growth Corridor,” the two-day forum aims to move discussions on bilateral trade and investment towards practical business partnerships.
The forum is jointly hosted by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and the Papua New Guinea–Solomon Islands Business Council (PNGSIBC).
SICCI Chairlady Namoi Kaluae and PNGSIBC President Ernie Gangloff welcomed delegates, describing the gathering as a historic opportunity for the two Melanesian countries to strengthen their economic relationship.
The opening programme features keynote addresses from Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, highlighting the commitment of both governments to expanding bilateral economic cooperation.
The forum is focusing on trade, investment, infrastructure, business and labour mobility, and the role of micro, small and medium enterprises in driving economic growth.
A key session on “Why Invest in Solomon Islands” includes presentations from Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration Harry Kuma, Pacific Economist at ANZ Banking Group Dr Kishti Sen, and Central Bank of Solomon Islands Governor Dr Luke Forau.
Other government ministers are also presenting investment opportunities in priority sectors, including mining and energy, infrastructure, agriculture and livestock.
Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Derrick Manuari, Minister for Infrastructure Development Ricky Fuo’o, and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Franklyn Derek Wasi are expected to outline opportunities and ongoing reforms in their respective sectors.
The programme also includes business-to-business meetings, a trade fair, networking sessions and the Prime Ministers’ Wansol Wara Charity Golf event.
On the second day, discussions will turn to financing investment opportunities, converting opportunities into projects, Papua New Guinea’s private-sector experience, and the experiences of PNG companies operating in Solomon Islands.
The forum will also examine the role of women and youth in business, with representatives from both countries participating in discussions on entrepreneurship and private-sector development.
Organisers say the forum is intended to create a stronger platform for businesses from PNG and Solomon Islands to connect, form partnerships and explore investment opportunities.
The initiative comes as both countries seek to deepen economic ties and build a regional growth corridor that can create greater opportunities for businesses, investors and communities in the two Melanesian nations.
The forum concludes on Thursday, 20 August, with a closing cocktail and networking event hosted by Solomon Islands Ports Authority.
//end//
BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
A COPRA farmer from West Kwara’ae, Ward 4, Malaita Province, says income from coconut farming has allowed him to build houses and become his own boss, after leaving carpentry work to take up copra production.
Colin Kakama attributes much of his newfound success to the Farmers First initiative of Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) which has allowed him space to support and grow his business further.
Mr Kakama, a carpenter by trade who previously worked for other contractors, said he began working on his coconut plantation in 2017.
Kakama said proceeds from copra sales funded the construction of six houses, which are currently rented out to the local community school. He said the shift to copra farming allowed him to become his own boss, earn a steady income, and spend more time with his family compared to working for others.
He compared his earnings from copra to those of seasonal workers under the Australia and New Zealand seasonal workers schemes, saying copra farming offers a comparable income while allowing him to remain at home with his family.
Kakama raised concerns over dishonest pricing practices by some buyers, saying farmers are sometimes enticed with promises of high prices over the phone, only for buyers to alter the price upon arrival at the wharf, citing sudden changes in overseas prices as an excuse.
He said his children are involved in work at the coconut plantation and have become proficient in the work.
Since February this year, Kakama has been selling his copra to the Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) in Auki, having completed three shipments so far.
He said CEMA Auki offers farmers financial advance when needed and supplies bags free of charge, adding that CEMA needs to remain competitive with other buyers operating in the area.
Kakama urges fellow farmers to focus on producing quality copra to meet buyer requirements, noting that buyers themselves are obligated under contracts with overseas buyers to supply high-quality copra.
He also encourages farmers to keep their plantations free of invasive beetles, and to view coconut farming as a duty passed down from their forefathers and one to be maintained for future generations.
On government support, Kakama calls for a dedicated budget to assist farmers in rehabilitating ageing coconut plantations, saying government could gain significant tax revenue from copra if greater attention is paid to plantation rehabilitation.
He also calls on the Ministry of Agriculture to assess active and serious copra farmers and assist them with strategies to control beetle infestations.
Kakama also appeals to national parliamentarians to work with landowners to open up idle land across the provinces for coconut planting, saying the country has significant unused land that could support development without relying on donor assistance.
Photo: Supplied
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BY JOSES SAREN
Solomon Islands’ economic growth is projected to slow to 2.8 percent in 2026, down from 3.6 percent last year, the World Bank says.
The slowdown reflects Cyclone Maila, the global fuel price shock from the conflict in the Middle East, weak private investment, and a continued decline in logging, according to the World Bank’s first Solomon Islands Economic Update, launched yesterday.
The report, titled “Harnessing the New Roots of Growth,” says the economy remains below its long-run potential despite the 2025 rebound.
Growth is expected to recover to about 3.1 percent in 2027 and 2028, the World Bank states.
That figure is still 1.6 percentage points below the pre-pandemic decade average, it adds.
The World Bank attributes the near-term outlook to two main drivers.
These are increasing mining activity at Gold Ridge and a substantial infrastructure pipeline, including the Tina River Hydropower Project and road construction, the report explains.
Remittances, now equivalent to about 5 percent of GDP, will continue to support household consumption, it notes.
However, the bank warns that growth remains concentrated in capital-intensive mining and donor-financed infrastructure rather than in services, tourism, or private investment.
The baseline projection rests on three assumptions that carry material uncertainty, the report further noted.
These are gold prices holding at 2025 levels, major infrastructure projects staying on schedule, and fiscal reforms — particularly the VAT Bill and wage bill measures — moving ahead in Parliament.
Should any of these weaken, the World Bank says growth could fall materially below the baseline.
The economy operated with an output gap of an estimated -2.4 percent of GDP in 2025, the report states, meaning output remains below the country’s productive potential.
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THE ISLAND SUN FRONT PAGE
ISSUE 5680 | WEDNESDAY 19 AUGUST 2026
FROM 4 TO 29.5
Public debt increases by four times in under a decade, World Bank warns
Solomon Islands public debt has quadrupled in less than a decade and could reach 35 percent of GDP by 2029, according to the World Bank.
Debt rose by about 4 percent of GDP to 29.5 percent in 2025, driven by persistent fiscal deficits, major regional events and growing infrastructure investment.
The World Bank warns that public debt will continue to rise, highlighting the need for gradual fiscal adjustment as the Government moves forward with public reforms.
Read the full story on Page 2.
Also in today’s edition
Solomon Islands growth to slow to 2.8 percent in 2026: World Bank - Page 3
GREAT plans 4 TAFE schools across country with Japan support - Page 3
WHO Solomon Islands reaffirms commitment to strengthen health system - Page 6
Plus more national, provincial, development, business, community and sports news inside today’s Island Sun.
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ISLAND SUN FRONT PAGE
ISSUE 5680 | WEDNESDAY 19 AUGUST 2026
FROM 4 TO 29.5
世界银行警告,公共债务在不到十年的时间里增加了四倍
根据世界银行的报告,所罗门群岛的公共债务在不到十年的时间里已经翻了四倍,到2029年可能达到GDP的35%。
债务在2025年上升了约4%的GDP,达到29.5%,这主要是由于持续的财政赤字、重大区域事件和基础设施投资的增加。
世界银行警告,公共债务将继续上升,强调政府在推进公共改革时需要逐步进行财政调整。
请在第2页阅读完整故事。
Also in today’s edition
所罗门群岛的增长将在2026年放缓至2.8%:世界银行 - 第3页
日本支持下的全国TAFE学校伟大计划 - 第3页
世卫组织所罗门群岛重申加强卫生系统的承诺 - 第6页
此外,今天的岛屿太阳报还包含更多国家、省级、发展、商业、社区和体育新闻。
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Island SunBusiness & Economy商业经济·2026-08-19Original ↗原文 ↗
BY LORETTA B MANELE
The Parliamentary Opposition Group commends the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Gordon Darcy Lilo for his responsible and realistic approach to Solomon Islands financial position.
A statement from Opposition this afternoon said the minister’s emphasis on understanding the country’s available fiscal space, strengthening domestic revenue and managing public finances responsibly is the kind of discipline required when Government is faced with many competing demands.
The Opposition Group said Mr Lilo in his recent presentation of the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, highlighted the pressure placed on the national budget when expenditure increases without corresponding revenue growth or a clear financing strategy.
The statement said this is a difficult responsibility for any Finance Minister, particularly when Government is also pursuing major policy commitments and new programmes.
“Minister Lilo deserves credit for putting fiscal reality at the centre of the discussion. A Finance Minister must look at what the country can actually afford before Government makes commitments that create additional financial obligations,” the Opposition said.
Moreover, the Opposition Group stated that this discipline must apply across Government.
“The Government is increasing expenditure, making additional political appointments and pursuing major commitments including fee-free education, infrastructure, agriculture and other programmes. All of these commitments have financial implications and must be considered against the country’s available resources,” the Opposition said.
Also mentioned is that while increasing revenue is important, it cannot simply be followed by more spending and that Government must also take into consideration what it can afford or sustain over the long term.
In regards to the proposed free education policy, the Opposition said the Government must be clear on the full cost of the policy and on how it will be financed alongside its other commitments.
“Good policy must be matched by good financial planning,” the Opposition stated.
The Opposition said responsible financial management requires the Finance Minister to have the space to properly assess the country’s finances and advise Government on what is affordable and sustainable.
“If we genuinely want responsible government, then fiscal discipline cannot rest with the Finance Minister alone. It must be respected and applied across the whole of Government,” the Opposition said.
Minister Lilo’s focus on fiscal responsibility has been welcomed by the Opposition Group and they will continue to support efforts to strengthen the country’s financial position while scrutinising Government spending and major policy commitments.
The Opposition said Solomon Islanders deserve a Government that makes promises based not only on what people want to hear, but on what the country can realistically afford and sustain and urges the Minister for Finance and Treasury to control government expenditure whilst building the country’s fiscal space.
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