SICCI urges Government-private sector dialogue to address challenges facing local contractors and businesses
HONIARA, Solomon Islands – The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has reiterated its call for a constructive Government–Private Sector dialogue to address the ongoing challenges facing local contractors, following its participation in a regional business seminar hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Nadi from 25–27 May.
SICCI, together with its member businesses—Motawa, Azimuth, NAL Construction, and State-Owned Enterprises Solomon Power and Solomon Water—joined international and regional businesses and organisations at the three-day seminar. The gathering provided a valuable platform for Pacific businesses to share experiences and explore pathways toward more inclusive economic growth.
During the seminar, SICCI observed that local contractors in Solomon Islands continue to face significant challenges, including high business costs, tax burden, qualification requirements, and limited access to finance. These factors, the Chamber noted, place local firms at a considerable disadvantage when competing against international businesses that operate with substantially wider margins of advantage.
SICCI member, Hatanga Ltd, through its Managing Director Mr. Jay Bartlett, highlighted several constraints that remain significant barriers to growing private sector local companies. These include procurement barriers, the need for genuine partnerships beyond subcontracting, building sovereign and local construction capability, and enabling local businesses to take ownership and forefront our infrastructure development.
While acknowledging that partnerships represent a positive step forward for Solomon Islands companies, SICCI emphasised that such partnerships must be structured with clear objectives to grow local capacity, expand business engagement, and build up domestic industry.
SICCI CEO Mr. James Dolarii said Solomon Islands has a growing construction sector ranging from medium to large businesses, which presents a genuine opportunity to develop local industry. However, given the constraints currently faced by even some of the country’s larger businesses, it is timely for the Government and the Private Sector to engage in meaningful dialogue to identify practical ways to strengthen the local industry sector.
Accordingly, SICCI has expressed its view that a Local Content Policy should be made a priority agenda item for Solomon Islands, as part of a broader effort to create a more level playing field for local businesses and to foster sustainable, locally driven economic development.
SICCI reaffirms its commitment to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to reduce barriers and create real opportunities for Solomon Islands businesses to contribute to the nation’s development.
PRESS RELEASE
