A two-day Consultation Meeting for Solomon Islands Heads of Missions gets underway in Honiara as of Thursday morning.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka, officially opened the meeting.
The consultation brings together the country’s heads and staff of overseas missions from Suva, Port Moresby, Canberra, Jakarta, Beijing, New Delhi, New York, Abu Dhabi, Brussels, and the Consular Office in Brisbane.
In his opening remarks, Minister Agovaka reaffirmed the mandate of Solomon Islands’ overseas missions: to promote and safeguard the nation’s interests and reputation abroad through the cultivation of friendly and constructive relationships with other states, as well as regional and international organizations.
He emphasized the Ministry’s vision of a sovereign, independent, and peaceful Solomon Islands—one that strives for economic prosperity and security for its citizens by strengthening diplomatic relations and engaging meaningfully in global affairs.
Over the course of the two-day meeting, officials from the missions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will review current foreign policies and discuss issues in international relations that directly impact Solomon Islands.
“This meeting serves as a vital platform for our heads of missions to share insights, exchange perspectives, and coordinate strategies aligned with our foreign policy and external trade objectives,” Minister Agovaka said.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Collin Beck, also addressed the gathering and presented the draft Foreign Policy document. The proposed policy will undergo further consultation before being submitted to Cabinet for approval August this year.
Deputy Secretary Hickson George delivered a presentation on the Ministry’s Corporate Plan for 2024–2028, along with the Annual Work Plan, outlining key strategic objectives and planned activities for the coming years.
Heads of Divisions within the Ministry also provided brief overviews of their respective branches, highlighting core functions, current initiatives, and the main challenges they face in delivering on the Ministry’s mandate.
Overseas Missions shared updates on their operations and activities, as well as insights into the foreign policy environment of their host countries, providing valuable context for shaping Solomon Islands’ diplomatic engagement abroad.
The second and final day of the meeting on Friday include a presentation on the Overseas Service Regulations, followed by contributions from other government ministries and key stakeholders, aimed at strengthening coordination and support for the work of the Ministry and its missions overseas.
—MFAET PRESS RELEASE
