The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) last Thursday met with donor organisations to discuss the state of the private sector in the country.
Present at the meeting were the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade(DFAT), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT), the Consular Agency of the United States of America, The Embassy for the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Commission (SPC).
An impassioned presentation was made by SICCI chief executive officer (CEO) Jerry Tengemoana who outlined the recent achievements of the Chamber of Commerce and the various challenges faced by the private sector in Solomon Islands.
Mr Tengemoana spoke from his own experience as a young boy growing up in Rennell and Bellona and the change that effective aid contributions are able to facilitate.
He stressed the need for aid that is both timely and able to address a need within a community.
Other comments were made by Niall Downey, CEO of Bemobile Solomon Islands, Andy Hewson the General Manager of SolBrew, and the SICCI chairman Tony Koraua who also serves as the country manager for Daltron Solomon Islands.
The discussions were around the security of businesses within the Solomon Islands, short and long term solutions to traffic congestion and a continued productive dialogue between the private sector and donor organisations.
