PRIME Minister Rick Hou has attended the ‘Partnering with the Pacific’ gathering at the Commonwealth House in Gold Coast, Australia on Saturday.
The gathering was organized to promote businesses in the Pacific and attended by other dignitaries, Pacific Island businesses including the Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk and Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey.
During her opening and welcoming remarks, Premier Palaszczuk formally welcomed Prime Minister Hou and other dignitaries highlighting the importance between the trade relations between Australia and the Pacific Island countries.
Senator for New South Wales and Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells also welcomed the Prime Minister and, said Australia treasures its relationship with the Pacific Islands.
Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia, H.E Colin Beck represented Solomon Islands as one of the panelists during the event.
Mr Beck said, Solomon Islands has a lot to offer to trade and businesses in the region.
He said with the country’s second international airport in Munda to be opened soon, Solomon Islands will offer a lot for tourism and trade opportunities.
Mr Beck also informed the panel and dignitaries of the current national projects which includes the Tina Hydro Project and the Submarine Cable Project.
“These projects are expected to boost trade and business opportunities in the country,” he said.
The High Commissioner also said that the pacific island nations should not be regarded as small island states; however, they should be known as large ocean states since they come from the Pacific Ocean, the largest in the world.
Representatives from Fiji and PNG also made presentations on the importance of doing businesses in the Pacific Island States.
Prime Minister Hou also informally met with the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden in which both Prime Ministers were invited by the Queensland Premier to join her in watching the opening of the Men’s Rugby 7s event at Robina Stadium.
– PM Press Secretariat