BY LORETTA B MANELE

The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) bill was developed through the path of partnership and perseverance.

Jamie Vokia, Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) highlighted this when he introduced the bill on the floor of parliament this Wednesday.

He explained that in 2015, Cabinet had established a SEZ taskforce compromising senior officers from across government with a clear mandate.

Under the mandate, the taskforce was to rethink the country’s investment strategies, ensuring to harness strengths and unlock new opportunities.

The other responsibilities as listed were; to craft a policy and a legal framework that enables growth in economic growth centres, in industrial parks and maybe household growth centres and to engage international expertise while grounding the bill in an unique Solomon Islands context.

He said the ministry has concluded two rounds of nationwide consultations.

“First in 2015, reaching every province and again in 2016, with focused dialogues in Gizo, Auki and Honiara.”

He stated that these discussions shaped the Solomon Islands Special Economic Zone Policy 2015 which was launched by Cabinet in 2016 and now guides the SEZ bill.

Vokia said his ministry also engaged with other government ministries and organizations like the Ministry of Lands and Survey, Customs, IRD, Immigration as well as with provincial leaders to ensure local perspectives is central.

He mentioned that businesses and civil society including SICCI and DSE (Development Services Exchange) were also involved.

Vokia said although drafting on the bill had delayed since the Attorney General’s original work in 2022, MCILI and its partners have worked tirelessly to refine the bill.

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