Solomon Islands delegation attends Trade Expo Indonesia

Solomon Islands Minister of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration, Harry Kuma, attended the 41st Trade Expo Indonesia to strengthen bilateral trade relations and explore commercial cooperation. During the visit, Minister Kuma met with Indonesian Minister of Trade Budi Santoso to discuss expanding business opportunities.

Key outcomes of the discussions include the proposed establishment of a biennial Business Commission involving the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu to facilitate regular engagement on trade. Additionally, both nations agreed to formalize a trade gateway linking the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry with its Indonesian counterpart to enhance business-to-business connections.

Officials also explored extending existing trade corridors from Lae, Papua New Guinea, to the Solomon Islands to create more direct and transparent trade routes. Both ministers expressed a commitment to addressing the existing trade imbalance and encouraging greater two-way commercial exchange between the two countries.