BY CHRIS ALEX
The Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) is advancing its commitment to Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development with ongoing provincial consultations for a new SME Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament soon.
Riley Mesepitu, Permanent Secretary for MCILI spoke about this at the launch of the Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) Centre on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at IBS Hotel.
He confirmed that the draft legislation is currently undergoing nationwide consultations.
“This is the work of the ministry through its Commercial Division. Once the consultations are completed, we expect the SME legislation to become law, giving a formal structure to our ongoing support for the sector,” Mesepitu stated.
The proposed SME Act is part of a broader strategy by the Ministry to build a stronger, more inclusive economic foundation. Alongside the SME Bill, the Ministry is actively developing several key policies to drive long-term growth, including the National Export Policy, National Industrialization Policy, National Competition Policy, and Product Packaging and Labeling Policy.
Mesepitu said there is no national export policy in the country thus this will be a first.
“We need these policies to help our SMEs access international markets and scale up production,” he said.
One of the key highlights of the government’s recent SME efforts is the launch of the Agribusiness Incubation (ABI) Centre in Honiara.
This is a flagship initiative that aims to equip rural farmers and entrepreneurs with training, resources, and technical support to grow sustainable agribusinesses.
Mesepitu hails the ABI Centre as a “key milestone” under the national SME Policy and a symbol of growing collaboration between government ministries and international development partners.
“It is part of the SME Policy, and now we are also working on the SME Act, which is already being implemented.
“This program gives life to our theme: “Unlocking Potentials for Sustainable MSMEs, especially in the agriculture sector, which is where most of our SMEs operate,” Mesepitu said.
The ABI Centre is the result of close cooperation between the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture, and partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Mesepitu highlighted the government’s focus on building an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. Recent initiatives include:
-Celebration of Solomon Islands’ first SME Day
-Launch of an E-Commerce Hub to support digital businesses
-Establishment of the UB Grow Business Accelerator for existing enterprises
-Hosting of the National Trade Fair and National Business Forum
Mesepitu expressed that the beauty of this program lies in collaboration.
“By partnering with others, including our farmers and micro-entrepreneurs, we are building a more inclusive and resilient economy,” he said.
The ABI Centre is seen as a strategic step towards agriculture-led growth, tapping into the economic potential of rural communities to support national development.
“Let us unlock the full potential of Solomon Islands’ agriculture sector for a brighter, sustainable, and prosperous future,” Mesepitu said.
For feedback, contact:[email protected]
