SICCI Executive Summary for July 2011

25 August 2011

1. SICCI Recruits New Programme Officer - Membership Services
   

   The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pleased to announce the recruitment of Mr. Barnabas Henson as the new Program Officer (Membership Services).

   Barnabas Henson joins the Chamber of Commerce having a broad range of experience in management roles, more extensively and recently as manager within the RAMSI Case Support Unit. Barnabas will be responsible for developing and implementing membership services for the benefit of Chamber members, working closely with the CEO and Board.

2. BMNZ Launches Mentoring Programme in Solomon Islands

   The Pacific Business Mentors Programme (PBMP) has recently been launched in the Solomon Islands by Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ). The launch, which involved 2 business presentations by representatives of BMNZ and the selection of applications, took place at the Heritage Park Hotel on Tuesday 19 July 2011, with both presentations attracting 69 business owners in total.

   The team of four (4) including Dr. Grahame Craig, Stewart Rowe, Ian Furlong and Ray Schofield were delighted to be here in the country to introduce and expand the Business Mentoring program. The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has been designated the local Agent for Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ).

3. Pacific Leadership Programme to Fund Bunsiness Job Fair
   

   The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) intends to do a Job Fair in late September 2011. The event is supported by the Pacific Leadership Program (PLP) with the aim of promoting quality leadership within the labor environment.

   The Business Job Fair is a strategy to fast track interaction between employers and job seekers. It is also an opportunity to promote the preferences of employers on employability. Companies will be contacted to showcase their interests and objectives to the public and interested business people.

   SICCI will be meeting with Pacific Leadership Programme representative, Ms. Georgina Cope together with the Solomon Islands Women in Business Association to discuss the structure of the Business Job Fair Event.

4. 20 Comapnies Selected for First Pacific Business Programme Roll-Out
   

   Twenty (20) local businesses have been selected from a total of 50 applications to participate in the first round of the Pacific Business Mentors Programme in the Solomon Islands. The Programme, which is funded by NZAid envisions the development of Pacific Islands businesses through strategic mentoring programme facilitated by Business Mentors NZ (BMNZ), as driven through the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

   The selection criterion included (amongst others) established business, export potential, import substitution, having between 2 and 30 employees, possess revenue growth potential, motivation owner, profit growth potential and where the owner is a Solomon Islands national. The official list of successful applicants will be released shortly, in time for the first visit by BMNZ Mentors, which is expected around the week starting 14th August 2011.

5. Business Mentors Programme Selects Local Mentors
   

   As part of the PBMP, 6 local business persons have been selected by BMNZ to be local business mentors. The mentors were chosen for their experience in business development and being business people in their own rights; but also for their ability to be volunteers, contributing their time towards helping other local business grow and develop.

   The first induction training of local mentors was successfully conducted on Friday 22nd July at the Heritage Park, Hotel. The training was conducted by Dr. C. D. Craig, founder of BMNZ, assisted by Stuart Rowe, Pacific Support Manager of BMNZ and Barnabas Henson, SICCI Programme Officer.

   The initial six selected local mentors are Mrs. Nancy Palmer, Mrs. Rose Isukana, Ms. Ethel Frances, Mr. Belani Tekulu, Mr. Justin Fuo’o and Mr. Francis Kairi. It is expected that by initially working on a counterpart relationship with the NZ mentors, the local mentors would enhance their capacities to be able to play a lead role in any future plans for a provincial roll-out of the programme.

6. SIEA and SIWA to Hold Business Presentation in August
   

   A business presentation is planned for the first week of August 2011. Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA) and Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA) will co-host the event. The General Manager for SIEA, Mr. Norman Nicholls, and the General Manager for SIWA Richardson Austein will do a business presentation during the event.

   The issue of water as well as electricity in the country has been a long-running concern to Solomon Islands communities, including the members of the Chamber of Commerce, who have now resolved to be more effective in supporting efforts to secure governmental and donor government support to reform policy and improve the services provided. The Chamber of Commerce believes that the opportunity to receive a presentation by SIWA and SIEA is important for businesses as it will enable us to understand the challenges as well as the way forward for these companies, but more importantly, the role that businesses can play in improving their services.

7. Taxation Sub-Committee to Meet With Authorities on eform
   

   The Ministry of Finance and (MOFT), Inland Revenue Division (IRD) and Economic Reform Unit (ERU) will meet with SICCI to discuss taxation issues and to identify any developments with the tax reform agenda. At this stage, SICCI remains obscure about proposed reform changes. Hopefully the meeting next week will trigger SICCI to move towards tangible initiative such as a proposed Tax Workshop

8. Labor Law Reform Sub-Committee to Finalize Position Paper and Submit Proposal to SIG and Unions in August
   

   The Labor Law Reform Position Paper has been in circulation for a month and the Board is satisfied that the proposals be submitted to the Government. The relevant subcommittee will therefore be called upon to deliberate on the paper and the next step is to lobby the government.

   SICCI is keen to see the developments of that, given that the biggest step has already been taken during the workshop. The impetus to convince the government and balance the interests with the workers will be piloted by SICCI but will ultimately need the support and help of the tripartite parties.

9. Companies Urged to Help Facilitate Clean-Up Honiara Campaign for Pacific Aarts Festival in 2011
   

   With the deadline for the Pacific Arts Festival approaching, the Pacific Arts Festival committee is calling on companies to be part of the preparation by participating in the clean-up campaign. The campaign is not limited to cleaning the streets but also doing a face-lift to the general appearance of the Capital City by refurbishing the public shops, repainting and landscaping. Time is of essence, and the best time to start is now.

10. Chamber Membership Slowly Increases
    

    The Chamber continues to increase in registered members as it totals 100 registered members in 2011. At the conclusion of 2010 the Chamber of Commerce recorded around 88 registered members, with paid up fees. In 2011, nearly 20 new companies have registered, bringing the total to 100. Despite this, only a little under 65 percent of members have paid or renewed their membership for 2011, while almost 40 percent are still to do so. All unpaid members have been urged to urgently renew their membership.