Solomon Islands and Serbia are seeking to translate growing bilateral ties into practical development outcomes, with potential cooperation identified in renewable energy, education, digitalisation, sports, tourism and community development.
The areas of cooperation were discussed by Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination Peter Kenilorea Jr and Serbia’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Rade Stefanovic, during a bilateral meeting in Koror, Palau.
Stefanovic said Serbia had received approval to explore a bilateral development cooperation programme with Solomon Islands, with a focus on small-scale, community-based projects that can deliver direct benefits to local communities.
“Serbia is a small country but we have a sincere approach to helping our partners as much as we can,” Stefanovic said.
Serbia has supported similar community-focused initiatives in other Pacific countries, including projects involving solar energy, water and sanitation, and education.
Kenilorea welcomed the approach, saying Solomon Islands was seeking partnerships that could produce tangible benefits at the community level.
“The community-focused approach is particularly welcome. We are interested in small projects that have a direct impact on people and communities,” Kenilorea said.
He said the Solomon Islands government would work with Serbia to identify projects aligned with national priorities, particularly in energy and education.
Cooperation across key sectors
Serbia also indicated its intention to contribute to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), strengthening its support for Pacific climate resilience and sustainable development priorities.
The two sides also reviewed progress on existing bilateral agreements, including a visa waiver agreement and a memorandum of understanding on political consultations.
Serbia has completed its domestic procedures for the visa waiver agreement and is awaiting confirmation from Solomon Islands before it can enter into force. Kenilorea undertook to follow up on the matter.
Both sides also expressed interest in activating the political consultations mechanism, which would provide a framework for more regular senior-level engagement and follow-up on agreed areas of cooperation.
Scholarships and digitalisation
Education emerged as another area with potential for expanded cooperation. Serbia is offering scholarships to Solomon Islands students in fields including medicine, engineering, information technology, forestry and agriculture.
Serbia also offered to share expertise in digitalisation and e-government, drawing on its experience in developing online public services.
Sports cooperation is likewise being advanced, with the two countries working toward finalising an existing sports cooperation agreement.
Solomon Islands invited to EXPO 2027
Stefanovic also invited Solomon Islands to participate in EXPO 2027 in Belgrade, including through the Pacific Century Pavilion.
The event would provide an international platform for Solomon Islands to showcase its culture, tourism, traditional arts, music and sports.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to deepen bilateral relations and move beyond diplomatic engagement toward practical cooperation supporting Solomon Islands’ development priorities.
The proposed community-level projects, scholarship opportunities, digitalisation cooperation and participation in EXPO 2027 form part of efforts to convert the growing relationship between Solomon Islands and Serbia into initiatives with direct and measurable benefits for Solomon Islanders.
