Solomon Islands, UAE Look to Turn Partnership Talks into Practical Development Gains

Solomon Islands and the United Arab Emirates are seeking to advance practical development cooperation following a high-level bilateral meeting on the margins of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror, Palau.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Hon. Rick Houenipwela met with Omar Shehadeh, Envoy of the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Caribbean and Pacific States, to review areas where both countries can move existing proposals into practical projects aligned with Solomon Islands’ national priorities.

The meeting built on earlier engagement between Solomon Islands and the UAE, with the Government now focusing on clear pathways to move priority initiatives from discussion to implementation.

“We have a number of areas that were already being discussed, and our task now is to see how we can take those discussions forward and translate them into practical outcomes for Solomon Islands,” Minister Houenipwela said.

Areas identified for cooperation include digital transformation, infrastructure, trade and investment, energy, fisheries, tourism, education and improved government efficiency.

Potential UAE support includes modernising public services through digital population and civil registration systems, e-government platforms, e-border systems, biometric passports, customs and taxation systems, and secure national data infrastructure.

Infrastructure and development financing were also discussed, with attention on roads, ports, airport modernisation, renewable energy and tourism facilities. The UAE has indicated its readiness to explore concessional financing and private-sector participation in priority projects identified by Solomon Islands.

Fisheries value addition remains a key economic opportunity, including plans to expand tuna processing capacity in Malaita Province. The discussions considered how UAE investment and development finance could support processing, create employment and retain greater value from Solomon Islands’ fisheries resources.

Energy was another major focus, particularly the need to reduce electricity costs and expand renewable energy and microgrid solutions for communities outside the main grid.

Mr Shehadeh said the UAE’s approach was to respond to Solomon Islands’ own priorities and development needs.

“We want to work with Solomon Islands on what Solomon Islands needs and support the country in delivering those priorities,” he said.

Mr Shehadeh also proposed establishing a small Solomon Islands technical taskforce to work with UAE counterparts to assess priority projects, develop practical solutions and set implementation timelines.

Education and scholarships, including opportunities for Solomon Islanders to study in the UAE, were also discussed as part of strengthening people-to-people links.

Minister Houenipwela said the next step is to ensure that initiatives already identified are advanced in a way that delivers tangible benefits through investment, job creation, economic diversification and improved public services.