SICCI welcomes the Local Content Policy, backing reserved contracts to boost local businesses, jobs and economic growth
HONIARA, Solomon Islands – The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has welcomed the Government for Reform, Empowerment, Accountability and Transformation (GREAT) Coalition adoption of a landmark Local Content Policy, announced today by Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Wale.
The policy, which reserves government contracts valued below SBD 50 million for Solomon Islands businesses, establishes a dedicated $50 million procurement reserve aimed at building domestic capacity, creating employment, and driving wealth creation across the nation.
“This is a policy of empowerment, not exclusion,” Prime Minister Wale declared. “For too long, many capable local enterprises have struggled to compete against businesses with significantly greater financial resources. Government procurement should achieve more than acquiring goods and services—it must strengthen national capability, create jobs, build technical expertise locally, encourage entrepreneurship, retain wealth within our economy, and contribute directly to a confident indigenous private sector.”
SICCI CEO James Dolarii described the initiative as a long-awaited opportunity to place local enterprises at the heart of national economic growth. “The private sector has consistently advocated for such a framework,” Mr. Dolarii said. “This policy enables local firms to compete more effectively and ensures the benefits of major projects remain in-country. We make no apology for this policy—it says to every Solomon Islander with the courage to establish a business, employ workers, and contribute to national development that this government recognizes your contribution and will stand beside you as a genuine partner in building our economy.”
The Chamber’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan identifies local content as a central advocacy focus, believing that prioritizing strong local participation bolsters the economy and empowers communities. While commending the Government’s commitment, SICCI emphasized the need for sustained public-private dialogue to address barriers facing local contractors, including access to finance, procurement hurdles, and skills gaps.
Mr. Dolarii also appealed to local businesses to deliver services and products with the highest quality and satisfactory results, stressing that excellence and reliability will be critical to building trust and long-term success under the new framework. He reaffirmed that the private sector stands ready to partner with the Government to turn this vision into lasting prosperity, enabling indigenous businesses to compete not only within Solomon Islands but across the wider Pacific region.
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