GEORGE RAUSI has taken the rein at Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) – the nation’s most productive and debt-free State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) following the departure of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eranda Kotelawa.
Mr Kotelawa officially handed over the reign to Mr Rausi who until Friday was the Chief Financial Controller of SIPA trading as Solomon Ports.
Mr Rausi from East Are’Are on Malaita is the third Solomon Islands national to occupy the position.
Under Mr Kotelawala’s leadership, SIPA grew from strength to strength, culminating in being awarded the Business Excellence Awards last November.
The award was in recognition of SIPA’s demonstration of excellence in service delivery, being a reputable employer and having a substantial impact in the country’s business community.
Among other things, the domestic wharf at Point Cruz was literally transformed with new a new Passenger terminal, new domestic wharves and spacious berthing space for the domestic fleet.
The Unity Square which has become an icon of attraction for local and international visitors alike is one more feat achieved by SIPA’s executive management team under Mr Kotelawa’s leadership.
“SIPA has continued to be resilient this year,” Mr Kotelawala told guests.
As one of the most profitable SOEs in the country, SIPA is proud to be local, with 99.9 per cent of its staff being locals. SIPA prides itself as catalyst in facilitating growth in the country’s private sector, he said.
In 2023, SIPA reportedly injected more than $150 million back to the local economy in the form of wages for its workers and to service providers who are essential to the Ports operations.
“This year (2024) we have made SIPA one of the most successful and stable ports in the region, it has come a long way, and thanks to the staff who have been with us in the past and still with us for their contribution to this success,” he said.
“I would like to take this moment to thank everyone for their collective efforts, to make the Port of Honiara, and Noro as one of the most respected and most efficient ports in the pacific region.”
Mr Kotelawala said SIPA has achieved this with the support of its staff, stakeholders, customers, and the government.
SIPA is the nation’s oldest State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), having been established some 65 years ago.
He said SIPA is continuing to build from strength to strength to establish itself as the region’s top port and gateway to the world.
By Alfred Sasako
Photo caption: SIPA outgoing Chief Executive Officer Kotelawala (second from left) flanked by SIPA’s Chief Financial Officer George Rausi (first from left), Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, Fredrick Kologeto (second from right) and SIPA Board Member and lawyer Gabriel Suri.
