CHINA WANTS MORE

-Solomon Islands edges closer to trade boom with its largest
trade partner & market with completion of export promotion
talks 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-level
officials from both countries completed an export promotion meeting recently.
China is Solomon Islands’ largest trade partner and market for Solomon Islands’ current
exports.

But, there is room for more as both countries polish up on the required official instruments
and protocols to allow for more, smooth trade.

A meeting aimed at promoting the export of Solomon Islands products to the Chinese
market was successfully held on August 9 at the Chinese Embassy.

Officials from the main government ministries and agencies – Ministry of foreign affairs and
trade (MFAET), Ministry of agriculture and livestock (MAL), Ministry of health (MHMS) and
Solomon Islands customs and excise division (SICED) under the Ministry of finance – which
will play pivotal roles in the coming trade boom with China met with Chinese embassy
personnel to discuss measures to facilitate the export of local agricultural and fishery
products to China.

China’s embassy media statement yesterday said in July 2023, Solomon Islands and China
signed an Inspection and Quarantine Protocol for copra oil cake.

“Last month, during Prime Minister Manele’s visit to China, the two sides signed the
Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for coffee beans and cocoa beans, Protocols on
Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for cultured and wild aquatic products.
“These agreements are part of broader efforts to enhance trade relations between China
and Solomon Islands, specifically focusing on the export of agriculture and fishery goods
from the Solomon Islands to China.

“According to the agreements, the products should meet the biosecurity requirements of
GACC (General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China), such as export
enterprise registration, the certificate of origin issued by SICED, and the inspection and
quarantine 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 Chinese
Embassy said China is the biggest trade partner of Solomon Islands and a huge export
market for Solomon Islands products.

In 2022, China granted Solomon Islands the non-reciprocal preferential tariff treatment, 98
percent 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 the
future, which will not only increase the income of SI people but also inject more vitality into
the economic development of the Solomon Islands.

She also said that the Chinese embassy will do its best to support the development of trade
between the two countries.

MFAET Director Natalia Patternot said that she will actively coordinate with relevant
ministries, strengthen cooperation with all parties including the Chinese Embassy, and
promote the early export of agricultural and fishery products to China.

Comptroller Peter Hughes of SICED thanked the embassy for introducing and explaining the
processes and said the customs will issue certificates of origin for exports to China following
relevant procedures.

MAL Deputy Director of Biosecurity Crispus Fanai and MHMS Chief Health Inspector Patricia
Soqoilo said that they will closely work with GACC and private companies for the
registration and issuance of relevant inspection and quarantine certificates.

In the meeting, five biosecurity officials who had attended the training programmes in China
also shared their observations and experiences.

They said that the training provided them with valuable learning opportunities and opened
their eyes.

During the training, some of them visited Chinese custom’s testing centers and places like
aquatic farms and greenhouses.

They learned not only first-hand knowledge of China’s bio-safety inspection and quarantine
process but also aquaculture development experience which they will share with their
colleagues 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 of
China’s foreign aid programs.

Since the beginning of this year, Chinese Embassy is working closely with MFAET, nearly 200
participants from Ministries, universities, chambers of commerce and provinces have visited

China to attend seminars such as Vocational Education, Renewable Energy Industry
Promotion, Circular Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation, Malaria Control, Big Data
Technology, Modern Livestock Farming Management, Young Entrepreneurs Ability Building,
etc.

In the future, the Chinese Embassy in Solomon Islands will work together with Solomon
Islands Embassy in China to arrange online meetings next month attended by Chinese
Customs and relevant SI Ministries on topics like how to issue certificates, register
exporters, and other specific procedures, the China embassy media statement yesterday
said.