BY NED GAGAHE
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says the recent high-level summit in Honolulu, Hawaii, has marked a significant “reset” in relations between the Solomon Islands and the United States.
Speaking to local media during a press conference on Sunday March 8, 2026, the Prime Minister said the meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and secure new commitments that can support the country’s development priorities.
As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Manele delivered the keynote address at the summit, calling on development partners to move beyond discussions and focus on practical, finance-ready projects tailored to the Pacific context.
“I urged our partners to shift from dialogue to implementation by supporting projects that are ready for investment and that respect the unique circumstances of Pacific Island countries,” he said.
During the summit, Manele held talks with Christopher Landau, the United States Deputy Secretary of State, where both sides discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation.
The Prime Minister revealed that the Solomon Islands Government is finalizing an Investment Incentive Agreement with the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) this year.
He said the agreement can help unlock private investment opportunities in the country.
Manele also used the opportunity to pitch the Bina Harbour Tuna Project to US private investors, describing it as a transformative industrial hub that could boost the country’s fisheries sector and create employment opportunities.
On the margins of the summit, Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination Trevor Manemahaga and Rexon Ramofafia and Minister for Finance and Treasury met with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to further discuss the Bina Harbour project.
Government officials also held discussions with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on how to strengthen collaboration to ensure national development projects are identified and implemented in a timely manner.
In another development, the Prime Minister announced that negotiations have been completed for the return of the Peace Corps to Solomon Islands in 2026.
The programme will bring volunteers with specialized skills to support rural communities, particularly in education and community development.
Manele also formally requested US support to establish a Pacific Islands Forum Trade Office in the United States. The proposed office would help exporters from Pacific countries gain better access to the American market.
The Prime Minister noted that similar PIF trade offices already operate in other major markets.
Security cooperation was also discussed during the summit.
The United States has committed to increasing assistance to help clear Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) left behind from World War II across Solomon Islands.
Officials from Solomon Islands also discussed commitment to strengthen cooperation on the recovery and repatriation of fallen US service members believed to be buried in Solomon Islands.
In addition, officials met with leaders and faculty at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies to explore opportunities for Solomon Islands officials to participate again in executive-level security training programs.
Prime Minister Manele said while such international partnerships are vital for the country’s long-term development, the government remains mindful that the benefits must ultimately reach ordinary citizens.
“Our engagement with the world is about ensuring the security, prosperity and wellbeing of our people at home,” he said.
He added that Solomon Islands will continue to strengthen partnerships with international partners as it navigates an increasingly dynamic global environment.
Photo credit: Press Secretariat, OPMC
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