Deepening Australia’s support for local businesses 

We all know businesses are the backbone of economies around the world.  That’s why I have prioritised meeting business leaders and engaging with local businesses and entrepreneurs in my first months as High Commissioner.

I have enjoyed meeting with and listening to leaders across the business community and the country’s State-Owned Enterprises  as well as the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) Executive and its business members.

I have been struck by the dynamism of the business community here in Solomon Islands – from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to the country’s largest companies.

There’s also an exciting entrepreneurial sector here – as I saw first-hand judging the Iumi Gro Business Accelerator Program Sharktank competition earlier this month. This was the culmination of five months of targeted business training and mentoring for ten local SMEs across a range of sectors and locations across Solomon Islands. 

All members of the business community want their businesses to grow and to support the country’s economic development by employing more Solomon Islanders and increasing incomes for their staff. Australia is backing that vision under the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership.

Australia’s flagship private sector development program, Strongim Bisnis, has partnered with more than 100 businesses across Solomon Islands. This has included coconut processors, cocoa farmers, seaweed sellers, tourism operators from Gizo to the highlands of Malaita and sustainable timber millers.

We’ve seen real results. Australia’s support for local cocoa farmers and sellers increased the value of cocoa exports by SBD2.7 million in 2025. And our support for seaweed exporters has opened new overseas markets and generated an extra SBD14million of exports, boosting the prices paid to local seaweed farmers. 

Australia’s support has meant more local businesses have produced more value-added goods right here in Solomon Islands. Coconut processor Islands Own now makes its own desiccated coconut which is sold in stores across Solomon Islands.

 Another good example is Kate’s Chips, a cassava chip factory in downtown Honiara. Australia’s support for Kate has meant she can make greater quantities of cassava and other delicious and healthy chips locally.

Bringing more of the value chain to the Solomon Islands means more economic value stays here, creating jobs and boosting incomes. 

In my early travels here I’ve seen first-hand the natural beauty and warm hospitality of Solomon Islands – the perfect ingredients for a strong tourism sector. To help this growing industry thrive, we’ve partnered with tourism operators throughout the country and established tourism hubs in Auki, Gizo, Marovo and Central Province.

These partnerships have expanded to include Australian First Nations businesses.  This has demonstrated the tourism potential of harnessing natural culture and heritage through tailored tourism services and cultural products. This support has seen a number of local businesses participate at the 14^th Australia–Solomon Islands Business Forum (ASIBF) and the World Indigenous Business Forum in Melbourne to connect with other First Nations businesses.  

This is just a small snapshot of Australia’s support for local businesses, which is just one aspect of how the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership contributes to the Solomon Islands economy through the business sector – there’s not enough space to cover our further investments in skills development and contract opportunities for local businesses, or our work to help strengthen the policy regulatory environment to support businesses to grow. 

As you can see, there’s no shortage of reasons why Australia is Solomon Islands’ nambawan economic partner. 

Lukim iu neks taem!