Solomon Islands is an archipelagic state situated in the south-west Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 km to the northeast of Australia. It extends over nearly 1000 islands comprising nine main island groups.
Solomon Islands is one of the Pacific's poorest countries, with high costs of service delivery due to a small and geographically dispersed population. The majority of the population is involved in subsistence/cash crop agriculture, with less than a quarter involved in paid work. Agriculture and raw materials (including logging) account for 92 per cent of exports, leaving the narrow-based economy vulnerable to shocks.
Major constraints to growth and private sector investments include poor infrastructure, under-developed labour skills, high utility costs, land tenure issues, and limited public administration and financial management capacity.
Australia is Solomon Islands' main development partner, with assistance focused on improving health, education, water and sanitation, transport, telecommunications, law and justice, rural livelihoods and effective governance.
In 2018-19 Australia supported development in Solomon Islands through:
- The construction of 43 classrooms, continued professional development for 1,183 teachers and school leaders, and progressed curriculum reform
- The maintenance or rehabilitation of over 1000km of roads
- Mobilisation of 20 workers under the Pacific Labour Scheme and 314 workers in the Seasonal Worker Programme
Connecting Solomon Islands’ capital to electricity via transmission line
Supporting greater access to electricity
Rehabilitating Solomon Islands’ Sasape Shipyard
Supporting essential shipyard operations
Australian High Commission, Honiara
Cnr Hibiscus Ave & Mud Alley
Honiara
Tel +677 21 561