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-Solomon Islands edges closer to trade boom with its largesttrade partner & market with completion of export promotiontalks recently-More agricultural, fisheries exports in near future to PRC
BY MORRIS NAFU
Solomon Islands is edging closer towards an all-out export flow to China as high-levelofficials from both countries completed an export promotion meeting recently.China is Solomon Islands’ largest trade partner and market for Solomon Islands’ currentexports.
But, there is room for more as both countries polish up on the required official instrumentsand protocols to allow for more, smooth trade.
A meeting aimed at promoting the export of Solomon Islands products to the Chinesemarket was successfully held on August 9 at the Chinese Embassy.
Officials from the main government ministries and agencies – Ministry of foreign affairs andtrade (MFAET), Ministry of agriculture and livestock (MAL), Ministry of health (MHMS) andSolomon Islands customs and excise division (SICED) under the Ministry of finance – whichwill play pivotal roles in the coming trade boom with China met with Chinese embassypersonnel to discuss measures to facilitate the export of local agricultural and fisheryproducts to China.
China’s embassy media statement yesterday said in July 2023, Solomon Islands and Chinasigned an Inspection and Quarantine Protocol for copra oil cake.
“Last month, during Prime Minister Manele’s visit to China, the two sides signed theProtocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for coffee beans and cocoa beans, Protocols onInspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for cultured and wild aquatic products.“These agreements are part of broader efforts to enhance trade relations between Chinaand Solomon Islands, specifically focusing on the export of agriculture and fishery goodsfrom the Solomon Islands to China.
“According to the agreements, the products should meet the biosecurity requirements ofGACC (General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China), such as exportenterprise registration, the certificate of origin issued by SICED, and the inspection andquarantine certificate issued by MAL or MHMS before they can be exported to China.”
In her opening remarks at the meeting last week, Counsellor Gong Rui of the ChineseEmbassy said China is the biggest trade partner of Solomon Islands and a huge exportmarket for Solomon Islands products.
In 2022, China granted Solomon Islands the non-reciprocal preferential tariff treatment, 98percent of products from Solomon Islands can be exported to China duty-free.
She hopes more local agricultural and fishery products will be exported to China in thefuture, which will not only increase the income of SI people but also inject more vitality intothe economic development of the Solomon Islands.
She also said that the Chinese embassy will do its best to support the development of tradebetween the two countries.
MFAET Director Natalia Patternot said that she will actively coordinate with relevantministries, strengthen cooperation with all parties including the Chinese Embassy, andpromote the early export of agricultural and fishery products to China.
Comptroller Peter Hughes of SICED thanked the embassy for introducing and explaining theprocesses and said the customs will issue certificates of origin for exports to China followingrelevant procedures.
MAL Deputy Director of Biosecurity Crispus Fanai and MHMS Chief Health Inspector PatriciaSoqoilo said that they will closely work with GACC and private companies for theregistration and issuance of relevant inspection and quarantine certificates.
In the meeting, five biosecurity officials who had attended the training programmes in Chinaalso shared their observations and experiences.
They said that the training provided them with valuable learning opportunities and openedtheir eyes.
During the training, some of them visited Chinese custom’s testing centers and places likeaquatic farms and greenhouses.
They learned not only first-hand knowledge of China’s bio-safety inspection and quarantineprocess but also aquaculture development experience which they will share with theircolleagues and apply in the development of their own countries.
They also felt the vitality of the Chinese economy and the hospitality of Chinese people.Technical trainings and human resources cooperation projects are very important part ofChina’s foreign aid programs.
Since the beginning of this year, Chinese Embassy is working closely with MFAET, nearly 200participants from Ministries, universities, chambers of commerce and provinces have visited
China to attend seminars such as Vocational Education, Renewable Energy IndustryPromotion, Circular Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation, Malaria Control, Big DataTechnology, Modern Livestock Farming Management, Young Entrepreneurs Ability Building,etc.
In the future, the Chinese Embassy in Solomon Islands will work together with SolomonIslands Embassy in China to arrange online meetings next month attended by ChineseCustoms and relevant SI Ministries on topics like how to issue certificates, registerexporters, and other specific procedures, the China embassy media statement yesterdaysaid.