External Trade

Pacer Plus Banner

The Institute for International Trade (IIT) at the University of Adelaide, is consulting government, business and community stakeholders across the Pacific to identify trade-related development priorities of members from the new free trade agreement – the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus).

MFAET PS Mr Collin Beck, Deputy High Commissioner Ms Sally Anne Vincent and Christina Skoumbourdis from the Australian High Commission in a photo shoot together with the workers after the Pre-departure briefing at St. Barnabas Leaf hut.

92 workers are preparing to leave the country starting next week to work in Queensland, Australia under the Seasonal Work Program (SWP). The workers will be travelling in small groups separately on different dates and flights. They will be quarantined at their pre-arranged quarantine sites for 14 days before going to their respective farms where they will be working for the next 9 months.   

PS Beck and Christina & Vanessa from AHC with the workers after the Pre-departure briefing at St. Barnabas Leaf hut.

After weeks of preparation 144 workers flew out to Australia on Monday 22 March to start their new 9-month contracts working on farms across rural Victoria and Tasmania. The workers are a mix of those who have been on the program before and those just recruited now for the first time.

Permanent Secretary for MFAET Mr. Collin Beck handing over the lab equipment’s to the PS for MHMS Mrs. Pauline McNeil

The National Public Health laboratory (NPHL) has received SBD $140,000 worth of laboratory equipment and chemicals thanks to the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) project.

mfaet-logo

Solomon Islands has entered into an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement by a number of Pacific Island Countries with the United Kingdom, which has come into effect on 1 January 2021.

Officials During the Signing Ceremony

The Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Pacific Labour Facility (PLF) on recruitment database.

Monica, Alice, Melvina and Helen with Robert and Deputy High Commissioner Walter Diamana (left)

Monica Wale, Alice Houtoro Tara, Melvina Saueha and Helen Tabe Poloso arrived in Brisbane on 7 March.  They were on Solomon Islands Airlines’ last scheduled flight before it folded its wings to help stop COVID-19 at the country’s border.  It was around the same time Australia’s federal and state governments closed their borders to control a worrying spread of COVID-19.

Hon. Jeremiah Manele

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Jeremiah Manele convey deepest condolences on behalf of the Ministry and the government to the family and relatives of late Clive Ramo.

From: the Minister, Permanent Secretary and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

To: the Wife and Daughter and Family and Relatives of Late Clive Ramo.


It is with a heavy heart that we learn the passing of  your dear husband, son, brother, uncle and nephew, the late Clive Ramo here in Solomon Islands and in Australia who was called to rest following a tragic incident in Australia.

Late Clive was part of a team of workers under the Pacific Labour Mobility program in Gunnedah, NSW Australia. He was called to rest following an accident on Sunday 28th June 2020.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is currently working with the Solomon Islands High Commission in Canberra and authorities in Australia to ensure the body of late Clive is safely repatriated home to be with his beloved family and relatives.  

May the soul of late Clive Ramo, dear husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew and Pacific Labour Mobility colleague rest in peace with our heavenly father, and may our good lord be source of healing and comfort during this difficult time.   

Minister of Foreign Affairs & External Trade, Hon. Jeremiah Manele

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade announces that Solomon Islands has now Ratified the Pacific Agreement on Close Economic Relations (PACER Plus) trade agreement.