United States Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Erin Elizabeth McKee, today presented her credentials to Governor-General Sir David Vunagi, formally marking the beginning of her ambassadorship to Solomon Islands.
“This is the culmination of my career, my foreign service journey, and it is a tremendous privilege to represent the United States of America to this important Pacific Island nation,” said Ambassador McKee. “Our shared history provides us with opportunities we can further build upon and during the next few years, I hope to engage, expand, and execute on three priority objectives.”
Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Jeremiah Manele and Chief of Protocol Trevor Ramoni facilitated Ambassador McKee’s credentialing ceremony at the Government House.
Ambassador McKee’s first priority is to deepen security partnership by increasing cooperation with the government to strengthen the capacity and capability of law enforcement, and to promote a rules-based order in the region, including in the maritime and cyber domains.
Her second priority is to build prosperity in the region by advocating for sustained, mutually advantageous, and high-quality commercial investment by American companies and other investors that conforms to best practices for transparency, good governance, rule of law and debt sustainability. She is focused on working with the Solomon Islands Government, to level the investment playing field and attract more American companies and products.
Finally, she hopes to further promote good governance and transparency at all levels of government and civil society, with a focus on gender equality and empowering women stands as one of her priorities in country.
“We recognize that societies that empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful, and this is the future we want for Solomon Islands,” Ambassador McKee said.
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Public Affairs Section
