BY NED GAGAHE

The Solomon Islands may miss its target of graduating from Least Developed Countries (LDC) status by 2027, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Peter Shanel Agovaka.

Speaking in Parliament recently, Agovaka acknowledged that while the country had been working towards the goal of LDC graduation, it is facing significant challenges.

He pointed out that the Solomon Islands has missed several targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are crucial for the graduation process.

“We are likely to miss it,” Agovaka said, emphasizing that the country needs to work harder in order to meet the requirements and achieve graduation by 2027.

He called for more focused efforts to address the gaps and to ensure that the nation is on track to meet the necessary SDG targets.

Graduation from LDC status would mark a significant milestone for the Solomon Islands, but it requires sustained progress in areas such as poverty reduction, education, and infrastructure development.

The government is now under increased pressure to accelerate its development efforts to meet the 2027 target.