Strongim Bisnis continued its platinum sponsorship of the Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum, held 11 to 12 September 2019, and proudly hosted the Forum’s agriculture and tourism sessions.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare opened the Forum, highlighting this year’s theme: “Partnerships for Shared Prosperity”. The Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum—currently in its 11th year—brought senior Solomon Islands and Australian government and business leaders to speak on topics about investment, commerce and trade between the two countries.

Australian High Commission Second Secretary Economic, Cass Grant, said “It is a great pleasure to attend this forum and is evidence of the close partnership between our two countries.”
The challenges and opportunities in agriculture were key topics during the agriculture sessions with presentations from Permanent Secretary (PS) Ethel Frances, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Jim Alexander Soltuna General Manager and General Manager Dan Raymond, Kolombangara Forest Products Limited.


The tourism session focused on the opportunities and challenges facing tourism development. Speakers included PS Andrew Nihopara, Tourism Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Chief Executive Officer Josefa Tuamoto Tourism Solomons, and Bill Tyson Solomon Airlines Manager Corporate.
PS Nihopara said “Establishing service reliability is one of the critical issues [of tourism], but more critical is the cost or the affordability factor…The opening of the Munda International Airport is a significant tourism milestone.”
