Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People, Justin Mohamed is visiting the country this week to participate at the 13th Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum in Honiara.
The forum runs from Monday 2 September to Thursday 5th September.
The Forum brings together businesses from Solomon Islands and Australia to further strengthen and identify opportunities for growing trade, investment, and commercial partnerships with one another.
Ambassador Mohamed said, he was thrilled to be visiting Solomon Islands for the first time to meet with Solomon Islands’ and Australian businesses.
“It’s an opportunity to highlight the economic potential created by embedding First Nations perspectives into trade and investment activities,” Ambassador Mohamed said.
In addition to attending the Business Forum, Ambassador Mohamed will tour Amazing Grace Boutique Cocoa Farm in East Honiara and meet with a range of local tourism operators to learn more about the opportunities for further Indigenous tourism exchange between Solomon Islands and Australia.
Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, emphasised Australia’s role as Solomon Islands nambawan economic partner.
“We know that trade and investment boost jobs, incomes and the economy,” High Commissioner Hilton said.
“That’s why Australia is partnering with local businesses in the productive sector – with cocoa and coconut farmers, tourism operators and sustainable timber producers across Solomon Islands to increase sales, exports and jobs for Solomon Islanders.”
“It’s also why Australia is proud to have supported 12 SMEs from the provinces, and Australian Indigenous businesses, to travel to Honiara to attend the 13th Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum, to identify new business opportunities and areas for collaboration.”
While in Honiara, Ambassador Mohamed will meet with Parliamentarians and local non-government organisations (NGOs) and deliver public remarks at SINU on his role as Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People.
This will include discussing his experience applying Australia’s First Nations approach to domestic and foreign policy across the Pacific, and Indigenous knowledge in government policies and decision-making.
Ambassador Mohamed will also speak about cultural and language preservation, human rights, climate action and land rights for First Nations People from rural communities.
Ambassador Mohamed will meet with Baru Conservation Alliance’s Chief of Burui Tribe, Esau Kekeubata to learn more about its traditional model of ecosystem stewardship and share First Nations knowledge and approaches for more effective environmental conservation.
Building on Ambassador Mohamed’s deep experience and strong connection to community on social justice and reconciliation, he will sit down with Chief Magistrate, the Public Solicitor and others from the law and justice community to share experiences and ideas about the advantages of incorporating Indigenous perspectives into the law and justice sector, including the use of traditional grievance and community-based dispute resolution mechanisms.
Ambassador Mohamed will also meet with local tourist operators, Authentic Mala Tours, Tititu Eco Lodge and Parangiju who had travelled to Australia earlier this year to meet with Australian Indigenous tourism operator, Yura Tours on Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island).
- Australian High Commission SI
