The Solomon Islands will see a new State-Owned Enterprise (‘SOE’) emerge.

 As part of a Government reform program in the aviation sector, 10 Government operated Airfields including Honiara and Munda International Airports currently managed under the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (‘MCA’) will be transferred across to Solomon Islands Airports Corporation Limited (‘SIACL’).

Read more: Commercial Opportunities at Honiara and Munda Airports

The government yesterday (15^th March) took delivery of the new international terminal thanks to the government and people of Japan.

Read more: PM THANKED JAPAN AS SIG TOOK DELIVERY OF NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

A delay to the project planning due to the COVID 19 outbreak in 2020 and the subsequent travel restrictions that pushed back the actual construction work to early 2021 did not deter the Government and People of Japan in delivering the Honiara International Airport Project on time especially before Solomon Islands hosts the Pacific Games in November.

Read more: Airport International Departures Delivered on time as Government prepares for Pacific Games.

Media Release

Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea: Pacific ICT Ministers have been called upon to work towards a Smart Pacific, One Voice. Heads of information and communication technologies (ICT) government agencies from eleven Pacific Island countries and two observers made the call at the inaugural Pacific ICT Dialogue held in Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea under the theme "Smart Pacific One Voice" where a proposal by Papua New Guinea to host a meeting of the Pacific ICT Ministers in Papua New Guinea later in the year was also endorsed.

Read more: PACIFIC ICT HEADS CALL FOR SMART PACIFIC, ONE VOICE

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation is establishing a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). The project is receiving a USD 120,000 grant from the APNIC Foundation.

Read more: Foundation Grant to help establish CERT in Solomon Islands

FROM: The Honourable Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka, The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Moses Virivolomo, Staff of the Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands, wishes the Chairman, Board of Directors, the Management and Staff of the Solomon Airlines a happy 60 Jubilee anniversary celebration on the 26th -27th October 2022.

So once again, happy 60th Anniversary accomplishment celebration.

Solomon Islands is on course to improve its digital future as the country’s National E-Commerce strategy was discussed with improvements at a recent two-days validation workshop in Honiara attended by government policymakers and private sector representatives.

Over the two days’ workshop, participants have exchanged ideas and shared perspectives and looked at all aspects of an enabling environment for e-commerce, from digital payments and last-mile logistics to digital entrepreneurship and MSME financing.

Participants have also identified clear indicators to track collective progress over the next five years and have refined some key pilot projects that will kick-off strategy implementation and build momentum across the government, private sector, civil society and development partners.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, Moses Virivolomo expressed his confidence that contributions from the workshop have made the strategy more practical, realistic and achievable.

He said the world is going digital and we are part of the global village, which is turning into a global digital village.

“We must embrace e-commerce and the digital economy to support all Solomon Islanders, including our youth, women, and those living in rural areas,” PS Virivolomo said. “I can feel the excitement and enthusiasm for e-commerce development in our country. The digital future for Solomon Islands is promising,”.

Virivolomo updated the workshop that the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, continues to implement projects that will improve connectivity across the country.

“We are rolling out pilot telecentres in Malaita and Choiseul Bay that will provide Internet access and computer labs to community members. We hope these telecentres will provide more than digital connectivity, however; we hope they become places to hold meetings, discuss new ideas, and in the future they could even turn into e-commerce hubs,” he said.

I addition, Virivolomo said “in today’s world, we must move beyond just thinking about digital connectivity. We need to think about how to use this connectivity to improve people’s daily lives through useful digital tools and services”.

PS Virivolomo thanked the Government of Australia for their generous financial contribution to this project. Similarly, he also thanked the Government’s technical partners – the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Capital Development Fund for their continuous support to the project.

Once this National E-commerce Strategy is fully validated and adopted by the Government, efforts will be shifted to strategy implementation in partnership with donor support.

-GCU Press

The potential of e-commerce to create jobs and increase business opportunities for SMEs was discussed among policymakers and the private sector at a two-day workshop in Honiara. The gathering was organized by the Solomon Islands Government to finalize its very first national e-commerce strategy. The five-year national strategy provides a vision and roadmap for the development of e-commerce and the digital economy in Solomon Islands.

“The National E-commerce Strategy includes a practical set of activities to improve the business, policy and regulatory environment for the development of e-commerce and the broader digital economy in Solomon Islands,” noted Mr. Riley Mesepitu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration. “We believe in the power of online commerce to improve the lives of all Solomon Islanders. Online commerce and the digital economy can create jobs, raise incomes and drive innovation”.

Despite high mobile phone usage and growing access to the Internet, online commerce remains very limited in Solomon Islands. In other countries and regions, however, e-commerce has accelerated economic development and opened access to new domestic, regional and international markets for businesses of all sizes. In Fiji for example, e-commerce is providing meaningful jobs for women in rural villages who sell their handmade products to online customers in Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and beyond.

“This is the power of e-commerce. It allows SMEs to access new markets. It brings rural and urban markets closer together. It reduces business transaction costs and makes it easier to start and operate a new business,” explained Mr. Moses Virivolomo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation.

“We must embrace e-commerce and the digital economy to support all Solomon Islanders, including our youth, women, and those living in rural areas.”

The Solomon Islands National E-commerce Strategy 2022-2027 was developed with the support of the Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP), a joint initiative of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The PDEP is funded by the Government of Australia.

Australian High Commissioner for Solomon Islands, Dr Lachlan Strahan said “As more Solomon Islanders develop online businesses, this is absolutely the right time for Solomon Islands’ first National E-commerce Strategy. Australia is proud to support its development. People who have smart ideas can get good things done if they have three things: the right tools; a level playing field; and a conducive, enabling environment. This strategy is a part of that mix.”

More than 80 participants from across the Government, the private sector and civil society are providing feedback on the national strategy to ensure that it will benefit all Solomon Islanders. After the Government formally endorses and adopts the national strategy, implementation will begin.

“This is an exciting time for digital development in Solomon Islands. As the Solomon Islands Government moves towards strategy implementation, we and other development partners stand ready to assist. It is only through collaboration and partnerships that e-commerce will truly emerge and flourish,” noted Mr. Dominic Leong, UNCTAD Regional Specialist on e-commerce and the digital economy.

-GCU Press