Economic GovernanceStrengthening public finances [0]

RAMSI is working with the Solomon Islands Government to strengthen financial management systems, to encourage broad-based economic growth and create a more prosperous Solomon Islands. RAMSI is helping to provide greater opportunities for both large and small businesses, including farmers in rural areas.

RAMSI has assisted the Solomon Islands Government deliver a program of targeted economic reform in areas such as taxation, transport (including aviation and shipping), industry revitalisation and simplifying regulatory requirements.

Strengthening public financesSolomon Islands Smallholder Agriculture Study [1], which identifies key areas for improving rural livelihoods, and has begun a program of assistance called the Transitional Support to Agriculture Program.

The Transitional Support to Agriculture Program (TSAP) is a short term program focused on implementing the recommendations made in the Solomon Islands Smallholder Agriculture Study. The program is focused on providing assistance to food production and marketing, and a number of nationwide projects have been implemented, including an agricultural market information system and a project disseminating improved root crop varieties. More projects are currently being developed for implementation.

Solomon Islands Infrastructure and Development Minister Stanley Sofu and RAMSI Special Coordinator James Batley inspect machinery to be used as part of road improvement works in Malaita.

Recognising the importance of road infrastructure, RAMSI has embarked on a program to rehabilitate key roads in the provinces. Better roads provide access to markets and services for rural people. Major work completed in 2005 on the East Road in Malaita resulted in increased market access and service delivery. RAMSI is contributing to the Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project (SIRIP), worth $SI128 million. The Solomon Islands Government has identified five provinces for road works – Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Isabel, Makira, and Western Province.

These efforts and ongoing security provided by the Solomon Islands Police Force and RAMSI have already had a significant impact on business confidence and the economy and have contributed to the economic recovery being witnessed in Honiara and throughout the provinces.

RAMSI hopes that by assisting the Government to strengthen its financial systems and stabilise the economy today, local and overseas businesses will have the confidence to invest in the Solomon Islands of tomorrow.

RAMSI aims to restore the wealth of the nation to the people of the nation.