A HISTORIC training on how to produce chocolate from locally grown cocoa beans is currently underway in Honiara. It was organised by the Adventist Disaster Relief Agency (ADRA) with support from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government (DFAT) and Solomon Islands NGO Partnership Agreement (SINPA). About 40 farmers mostly young farmers…
A United States (US) based chocolate manufacturer Madre Chocolate is planning to source cocoa beans from the Solomon Islands to produce chocolate. Speaking to the Solomon Star on Wednesday Dr Nat Bletter, ethnobotanist, cacao researcher and chocolate maker based in Hawaii said, he has been collecting cocoa beans from Hawaii, South and Central America to…
TOURISM operators in Marovo Lagoon, Western Province who fails to pay up their bed levy and business registration with Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau(SIVB)have received letters reminding them to settle their outstanding payment and register their accommodation or they will face the law. About seven operators in Marovo lagoon who are yet to settle their bed…
TOURISM operators in Marovo Lagoon, Western Province have been urged to build standard and simple accommodation. Officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) and Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) highlighted this during a two days tour to some of the tourism operators within the Lagoon last week. The aim of the visit was…
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services on Thursday has congratulated Delite Industries in undertaking the fortification of their flour. This means Solomon Islanders will be less vulnerable to disease, after the country’s flour miller began adding essential vitamins and minerals to their product last week. This is a significant achievement for Solomon Islands,’ said…
Proposed purchase of Westpac Corporation’s operations in Solomon Islands by Bank South Pacific of Papua New Guinea has been delayed. Expectations were for all necessary statutory, regulatory and third party approvals to be completed with full transactions, June 2015. BSP early this year announced it had entered into a proposed sales agreement to purchase Westpac’s…
Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) says that performance of investments can credit member contributions from 2.5% to whatever rate the Fund’s investments can deliver. The Fund’s Deputy Manager Michael Wate made the clarification yesterday following a concern raised by a local man Hendry Kahui. “Where was Hendry Kahui when the credit was 2.7% in…
A statement from Westpac countering reports in the Solomon Star on Wednesday which stated that BSP will be taking over Westpac as of this week, said further consultations is ongoing. On Wednesday the Solomon Star quoted a Westpac spokesperson saying sales to BSP should be completed by this week and Westpac operations cease. Westpac said…
A NEW portable sawmilling is being introduced in Honiara on Wednesday by its owner who is currently here to train locals how to handle the portable saw mill. Called “Junior Peterson” which in short ‘JP portable sawmill’, it is original from New Zealand. The sawmill was first introduced in Solomon Islands few years ago and…
Solomon Islands tuna bound for EU markets marked a milestone moment this month. As of 1stJuly 2015, the EU has formally registered the Solomon Islands as an official TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) participant. This status allows the Health Competent Authority and Industry to have access to the EU electronic certification systems. TRACES is…