Honiara, Solomon Islands, Wednesday 14 January 2026 – Prime Minister Honourable Jeremiah Manele received Australian High Commissioner-designate H.E. Jeff Roach in Honiara this morning to formally accept his letter of introduction.
Mr. Roach, a senior career officer with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, presented his official letter alongside a personal message from Australian Prime Minister, the Hon. Anthony Albanese. Following the formal protocol, the leaders exchanged views on priority areas for bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to a continued, respectful partnership.
Prime Minister Manele welcomed Mr. Roach back to Honiara, acknowledging his extensive experience in the Pacific. Mr. Roach most recently led the Australian Governmentβs initiatives on the Tuvalu-Australia Falepili Union and the Nauru-Australia Treaty, and has previously 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 highlighted the importance of cooperation as Solomon Islands prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2027.
βTrade 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,β Prime Minister Manele said.
He noted that a Transition Strategy is already in place to manage the phasing out of special LDC support measures.
PM Manele also highlighted the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which he credited with helping address youth unemployment. He proposed exploring new opportunities in Early Childhood Education, building on the success of Solomon Islanders currently working in Australia’s aged care sector.
βSolomon Islands appreciates the opportunities for our people under the PALM scheme, and we are looking at further areas for cooperation including Early Childhood Education,β the Prime Minister stated.
The Prime Minister thanked Australia for its continued support in health, education, policing, and infrastructure, including the Tina River Hydro Project and the partnership with the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP). He also acknowledged the deep “people-to-people links” in sports, church, and education that cement the bilateral bond.
Regional leadership was a key focus, with the Prime Minister noting his role as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
βAs 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,β the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Manele concluded by wishing Mr. Roach, who has also held postings in France and Laos, every success in his new role, expressing confidence in the further strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.
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[Press Release]
