AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSES TO PARTNER WITH SOLOMONS
Prime Minister Lilo making his address. Photo credit: Robert Iroga.
Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has urged Australian business houses to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with Solomon Islanders.
Speaking at the Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum and Trade Expo in Brisbane on Friday last week, Prime Minister Lilo said Australia remains a significant player in Solomon Islands and this is evident in the increase of Australian-owned businesses in the country.
On challenges facing Solomon Islands, Prime Minister Lilo said his Government is making progress in addressing some of these issues, including political instability and high costs of running businesses, especially electricity prices.
He told the Forum, in their bid to bring down the cost of electricity and improve reliability, the country is supporting two renewable energy projects – the Tina River Hydro River Project and the Savo Geothermal Project.
He said the Government expects the project’s time horizons to be three to four years and there should be an improvement in reliability and reduced cost for electricity when they come into operation.
The Prime Minister also encouraged members of the Forum to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with Solomon Islanders.
He said the Solomon Islands continues to provide Australia with opportunities and it is their job to turn these into reality.
Prime Minister returned to Honiara yesterday.