BY LORETTA B MANELE

Countries from the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) have reinforced their commitment to regional cooperation.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele pointed this out when he spoke about his recent trip to Suva, Fiji to the 23rd MSG Leaders’ Meeting.

Addressing local media representatives in a recent press conference, he said the theme of the meeting was “A Peaceful and Prosperous Melanesia.”

“We reinforced our commitment to regional cooperation on trade, labour mobility, climate action and security,” he said.

Manele expressed that at the meeting, Solomon Islands reaffirmed strong support for the MSG Secretariat and he welcomed Fiji’s generous allocation of land for our High Commission in Suva.

He added that this further strengthens our diplomatic presence and regional ties in line with the (Government for National Unity and Transformation) GNUT’s emphasis on unity and stability.

Moreover, Manele said prior to the meeting, there was the MSG Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that was held on June 20.

He stated that in this meeting, leaders agreed to review the MSG institutional framework and governance to ensure relevance to the changing global context.

“The MSG agreed to consider a dialogue partner mechanism inspired by ASEAN, (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) which would enable strategic engagement with external countries and organisations.

“Such a mechanism could strengthen diplomatic ties, foster regional cooperation and enhance MSG’s influence and resource mobilisation through structured partnerships and to finalise the MSG security strategy in October during Indonesia’s chairmanship,” he said.

Manele clarified that this chairmanship is of a police-related meeting and not of the MSG.

He said they also reaffirmed MSG’s support for New Caledonia’s decolonisation through multilateral processes and agreed to explore a Melanesia business travel card scheme with a technical working group to be established.

Manele noted that leaders at the meeting also endorsed the 2025 Melanesian Prime Minister’s Cup to be held in Port Moresby and the 2026 Melanesian Cultural Festival to be hosted by Fiji.

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Solomon Islands’ foreign investment board makes public refute of SI Group Ltd’s legal status

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

The Solomon Islands Foreign Investment Division (FID) has publicly labelled the SI Group Limited as an ‘alien entity’.

FID in a public notice today says it has not approved the SI Group to do business in the country.

A statement by the Government Communications Unit (GCU) yesterday said in response to direct enquiries about the company, the FID says “the office of the Foreign Investment Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigrations wishes to advise the public that we do not have any approval issued to a foreign entity called SI Group Limited”.

The notice said that their presence in Solomon Islands carrying out commercial activity without foreign Investment approval or company incorporation violates the laws of this country, the GCU statement said.

“The individuals carrying out misrepresentation of this foreign entity are required to cease immediately,” the notice warned.

The so-called SI Group Limited controversially entered into an MOU with the Solomon Islands Government without cabinet approval, when the Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) was coerced to travel and sign an MOU with the group’s Executive in Vietnam recently.

Minister MCILI Jamie Vokia had signed a MOU with the SI Group Ltd on June 2 this year in Vietnam – in what has transpired as an authorised act.

The SEZ Bill was passed by Parliament on May 26, 2025. The following day, Vokia and his delegation left for Hanoi, Vietnam.

Prime Minister Manele has since disassociated his government from Vokia’s action and the SI Group Ltd.

At a press conference last week, PM Manele said that Vokia would face consequences for his action. It is not clear what the penalty is.

A senior government political appointee who was part of the trip to Vietnam was last week replaced. A second government officer who was also part of the Hanoi trip has also resigned.

Opposition Leader Matthew Wale had raised a media complaint earlier, urging PM Manele to deal with this fiasco caused by his minister, Vokia.

Mr Wale described the incident as a reckless act of rogue diplomacy that by-passed Cabinet authority and exposed serious weaknesses in government discipline and accountability.

Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) spotlighted this issue in the media on June 4, when it raised concerns on Vokia’s signage of the MOU with the SI Group on June 2, just days after the unpopular SEZ Bill was passed in parliament.

“The ink on the SEZ Act has barely dried and Cabinet or Caucus have not signed this but Hon Vokia (minister) has already signed such an exclusive MOU, with a Chemical company,” TSI statement June 4 said.

TSI reported that the MOU Vokia had signed with the SI Group said that the company will be the Strategic Adviser and priority investor on major investment opportunities within the zone and its role will include:

•           Advising on SEZ development strategy, structure, and international best practice

•           Promoting SEZ to global investors and multilateral institutions

•           Facilitating capital mobilization and technical partnerships,

•           Supporting legal, financial, and regulatory alignment to attract long-term investment.

TSI posed the questions – What due diligent check has the Executive Government done to arrive at the conclusion that SI Group have got the resources and what it takes to successfully achieve these.  How much will the taxpayers of Solomon Islands will have to pay for the engagement of SI Group. 

Government has not responded to TSI’s questions.

SI Group, first established in 2001 as ESPECO (HK) Limited, is headquartered in Vietnam, according to TSI.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The KIWA project aligns with the Government for National Unity and Transformation’s (GNUT) four pillars of inclusive development, rural empowerment, climate resilience and economic transformation.

Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Trevor Mahaga made the statement at the launch of the KIWA Empower project in Honiara on Tuesday, 24 last week.

Speaking at the event, Mahaga said it also directly supports GNUT’s national frameworks, including the National Climate Change Policy, National Biodiversity Strategies and Plans, and National Development Strategy 2016-2025.

He said the KIWA Empower project is scheduled to run over three years.

Mahaga stated that the urgency of the climate crisis demands that every year should be treated as vital that people cannot afford slow action.

“We must ensure that by the end of 2027, we can look back on this initiative with pride, knowing that we delivered something, tangible, something that can be touched, seen and measured in the lives of those it aims to save,” said Mahaga.

He said that his office will work closely with all partners to monitor progress, unblock challenges and create an enabling environment for real delivery.

“The true taste of this project is not how well it is written, but how well it is lived. As a minister of environment, climate change, ecosystem management and meteorology, I am committed to ensuring that this program is not left on paper,” said Mahaga.

“This is a three-year journey, but we must make every month count. We must front-load our efforts so that meaningful outcomes are visible well before the final milestone,” he said.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The KIWA initiative, recently launched in Solomon Islands, not only provides funding but also reignites hope in this challenging time of climate change.

Trevor Mahaga, Minister for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services (MECDM) voiced this at the launch of the KIWA Empower project in Honiara last week.

The KIWA Empower project is scheduled to run over three years.

Mahaga highlighted that the project is not merely another development project but a moment of alignment where our shared aspirations, our commitments and our respect for traditional knowledge systems come together to empower our people to thrive in the face of a changing climate.

He referred to the launch as the beginning of a journey of empowerment, inclusion and bold local action.

“A journey grounded in the realities of our communities, particularly those in the outer communities such as Sikaiana, Malaita and Nifiloli of Temotu province, where the impact of climate change is not theoretical, but deeply personal,” said Mahaga.

He said that sea level rise, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion and loss of food sources are no longer just risks, but daily experiences.

“Our rural communities have carried these burdens quietly for too long. Today, we say to them, you are seen, you are heard and we are with you. To our counterparts, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, France and Canada, we extend our deepest appreciation. Your support through the KIWA initiative has not only provided funding but has also reignited hope,” he said.

He said through this partnership, Solomon Islands can now take stronger and more meaningful steps towards community-led climate adaptation, resilience building and biodiversity protection.

“And on behalf of the Solomon Islands government, I say thank you very much,” he said.

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