Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele received Australian High Commissioner-designate Jeff Roach in Honiara on 14 January 2026, formally accepting his letter of introduction and reaffirming the strong partnership between the two countries.
Roach, a senior career officer with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, presented his official credentials along with a personal message from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The leaders exchanged views on priority areas for bilateral cooperation, underscoring a shared commitment to a continued, respectful partnership.
Prime Minister Manele welcomed Roach back to Honiara, acknowledging his extensive experience in the Pacific.
Roach has previously led Australian initiatives on the Tuvalu-Australia Falepili Union and the Nauru-Australia Treaty, and has served as High Commissioner to Vanuatu and Deputy Head of Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
On trade and economic development, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of cooperation as Solomon Islands prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) 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,” Prime Minister Manele said, noting that a Transition Strategy is already in place to manage the phasing out of special LDC support measures.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which has helped address youth unemployment. He proposed exploring further opportunities in Early Childhood Education, building on the success of Solomon Islanders currently employed 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,” he said.
Prime Minister Manele thanked Australia for its continued support in health, education, policing, and infrastructure, citing projects such as the Tina River Hydro Project and partnerships under the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP). He also acknowledged the strong “people-to-people links” through sports, church, and education that strengthen the bilateral relationship.
Regional leadership was also discussed, with the Prime Minister noting his role as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
“As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Solomon Islands will play a crucial role in leading the Pre-COP31 Summit, which will be an important opportunity for Pacific Island countries to present our collective issues,” he said.
Prime Minister Manele concluded by wishing Roach, who has also held postings in France and Laos, every success in his new role, expressing confidence that the relationship between Solomon Islands and Australia would continue to grow.
