Issues affecting the private sector was raised by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry [SICCI] during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting [PIFLM] held in Tonga on 26th to 30 August.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SICCI, James Dolarii was amongst representatives of private sectors who addressed the international and regional leaders attending the forum.
Mr. Dolarii enlightened leaders about the constraints to economic growth not to Solomon Islands only but the Pacific, that affects the business environment, this includes infrastructure, tax system, human resources, trade, entrepreneurship, governance and prioritization of key policy reform.
Mr. Dolarii reminded leaders’ that private sector is the backbone of any economy and ensuring that it operates and growth to create jobs and contribute to economic building is a shared responsibility between governments, private sector and development partners.
On national level, he said Solomons needs a high performing economy and it can only be achieved from a strong broad private sector base.
On the sides of the forum, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Mr Collin Beck who also attended the meeting was happy with SICCI’s presentation.
He said that his Ministry will work closely with SICCI to look at the issues affecting the private sector in trade and work closely with other line Ministries to address private sector issues.
“Supporting the private sector is important and also critical for our smaller economy,” he said.
SICCI saw the intervention responses from Prime Ministers of PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands PS of MFAET Mr. Collin, as a positive step to address private sector issues from the national and regional level.
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting is the region’s highest assembly where regional leaders meet to discuss pressing issues affecting the pacific as well as opportunities going forward.
The United Nation General Secretary and other global leaders join Pacific Islands Forum Leaders at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting.
