A meeting in Brisbane on 18 November brought together members of the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council and a visiting delegation of senior officials and executives from Solomon Islands State-Owned Enterprises. The discussion, hosted by APIBC Council member Pronto Software at their Brisbane offices, marked the latest effort to deepen economic ties following the Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum held in Honiara earlier this year on 4-5 September. The meeting was chaired by APIBC executive committee member Steve Hillyard, General Manager for Queensland, Northern Territory, and Papua New Guinea at Pronto Software.
The delegation’s visit to Brisbane was part of the Canberra Fellowships Programme, an initiative by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to strengthen collaboration and build leadership capacity in the Pacific region. Discussions focused on opportunities for business collaboration across sectors such as technology, infrastructure, renewable energy, and resource management. Several APIBC members also attended, reinforcing the Council’s role as a key facilitator of Australia–Pacific trade relations.
The Solomon Islands delegation included Ms Michelle Maelaua, Head of Corporate Service at Solomon Islands Water Authority; Ms Eleanor Meli, Acting Chief Operating Officer at Solomon Islands Airport Corporation Limited; Mr Mike Qaqara, Director of Transport Infrastructure Management Services Division at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development; Mr Greg Manehugu, General Manager of Special Projects and Planning at Solomon Islands Electrical Authority; Mr Richard Toben, Operations Manager at Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company; Mr Alan Christian Siale, Deputy Policy Secretary Productive Sector at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; and Mr Selwyn Takana, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury. The group was accompanied by Australian Government officials, including Ms Samantha Bell, First Secretary for Infrastructure at the Australian High Commission in Honiara, and Ms Lauren Porteous, Acting Assistant Director for Economic and Development at the Solomon Islands Branch.
The Solomon Islands economy, while primarily reliant on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and mining, is undergoing efforts to diversify and modernise its infrastructure. SOEs play a critical role in this transformation, and enhancing their performance is a priority for the government. Australia, as a key trade and development partner, has been instrumental in supporting these efforts.
This meeting underscored the importance of fostering direct dialogue between Australian businesses and Solomon Islands stakeholders. It also built upon the outcomes of the Honiara Forum, which set the stage for continued collaboration in areas such as infrastructure development and private sector engagement. As the Solomon Islands prepares to unlock its economic potential, partnerships with Australia remain pivotal to achieving sustainable growth and prosperity in the region.
