BY NED GAGAHE
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele warns that Solomon Islands remains dangerously dependent on extractive industries such as logging, fishing, and mining—sectors that take from the country’s land and sea but fail to create lasting prosperity for its people.
Mr. Manele made the remarks at the launch of the National Development Strategy (NDS) Medium Term Review Report and four related strategic documents at Mendana Hotel in Honiara on Friday, October 17, 2025.
Speaking on Economic Growth (Objective One) under the NDS, the Prime Minister said the country’s economic structure remains fragile and overly reliant on resource-based industries.
“Our economy remains dangerously dependent on logging mainly, followed by fishing and mining—extractive industries that take from our land and sea but did not really build lasting prosperity,” he said.
He revealed that the government’s targeted GDP growth rate of 3.5 percent by 2020 and 5 percent by 2025 has not been achieved, with Solomon Islands only managing to reach 3 percent in 2023.
Mr. Manele attributed this shortfall to deep-rooted structural challenges, including limited diversification and regulatory barriers that continue to constrain private sector development.
On Poverty and Basic Needs (Objective Two), the Prime Minister highlighted persistent social and economic challenges.
He said while the country’s Human Development Index (HDI) improved from 0.507 in 2010 to 0.565 in 2020, it still fell short of the targeted range of 0.625 to 0.675.
“Twenty-three percent of Solomon Islanders—nearly one in four—cannot meet their basic needs. Seventeen percent of our population suffers from malnutrition,” he said.
However, Mr. Manele said there are reasons for optimism, pointing to the Seasonal Worker Programme, which contributes around SBD 500 million annually to the economy.
“That’s 500 million reasons to believe that when we nurture real opportunities, our people thrive.
“But that’s not enough. What else can we do? Certainly, there is so much more that we can do collectively,” he said.
The Prime Minister said his government will continue to explore strategies to diversify the economy and create sustainable pathways for inclusive growth and development.
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