CAREER diplomat Jeff Roach is Australia’s new high commissioner to Solomon Islands.
He was welcomed in Honiara today by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and discussed priority areas for bilateral cooperation.
Manele and Roach reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to a continued, respectful partnership.
Roach most recently led Australian initiatives on the Tuvalu-Australia Falepili Union and the Nauru-Australia Treaty. He previously served as High Commissioner to Vanuatu and Deputy Head of Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
During their talks, Manele highlighted the importance of cooperation as Solomon Islands prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2027.
“Trade and economic cooperation is very important to Solomon Islands as we move towards LDC graduation, and PACER Plus remains important and critical for our country,” Manele said.
He noted that a Transition Strategy is already in place to manage the phasing out of special LDC support measures.
Manele also highlighted the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which he credited with helping address youth unemployment. He proposed exploring new opportunities in Early Childhood Education, building on the success of Solomon Islanders currently working in Australia’s aged care sector.
“Solomon Islands appreciates the opportunities for our people under the PALM scheme, and we are looking at further areas for cooperation including Early Childhood Education,” Manele said.
He also thanked Australia for its continued support in project financing, health, education, policing, and infrastructure.
Additional content: In depth Solomons