The inaugural Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands Business Investment Forum has brought government, business and development partners together in Honiara to build stronger trade, investment and commercial links between two of Melanesia’s largest economies.
Held at the Heritage Park Hotel on 19-20 August, the forum carried the theme “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG-Solomon Islands Growth Corridor” and was jointly hosted by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands Business Council.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale opened the event, which brought together investors, business executives, financial institutions, development partners and government representatives.
Discussions covered infrastructure, mining, telecommunications and digital services, financial services, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, energy, professional services and opportunities for young people and MSMEs. Twelve Solomon Islands MSMEs, including women-led enterprises, were also given an opportunity to participate, with sessions covering investment readiness, access to finance and market development.
The forum also provided a business platform supporting the PNG-Solomon Islands Economic Framework Agreement on Development and Economic Cooperation 2026-2030, signed earlier this year.
One of the recurring themes was the need to convert longstanding political, cultural and people-to-people ties into practical commercial partnerships. Areas identified for greater cooperation included joint ventures, downstream processing, fisheries, mining, agriculture and infrastructure.
SICCI and the PNG-Solomon Islands Business Council said the strong participation demonstrated demand for more structured business-to-business and business-to-government engagement.
Their post-forum priorities include increasing bilateral trade and investment, facilitating investor connections, encouraging joint ventures, supporting MSMEs, addressing barriers to the movement of people, skills and goods, and increasing private-sector participation in major development projects.
A work plan is now being developed to capture the forum’s recommendations, with progress expected to be reviewed at future conferences.
For the wider Pacific business community, the initiative represents another step towards stronger commercial links between neighbouring island economies and a more connected Melanesian market.
Main picture courtesy: The Solomon Star.
