REINVENTING THE WHEEL

Buying Centers to be reopened in all Provincial Centers, starting with Pakera

Pakera Buying Centre in Kirakira, Makira Ulawa Province

Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) one of several Solomon Islands Government-owned businesses have stepped into the spotlight with a new perspective and direction with its recent rebranding and now trading as Solomon Commodities. The current government has given more consideration to revitalizing the agriculture sector through upscaling of local commodities. With this conviction, Solomon Commodities have been tasked to facilitate tangible economic development and activities closer to our people in the rural areas, particularly our farmers and villagers. According to a member of the Cabinet Subcommittee Secretariat, Mrs Freda Unusi, the current Government has a strong desire to increase economic activities in the rural sector, particularly in the agriculture commodities and other related sectors of our economy as a whole. The re-opening of the Pakera Buying Centre is a clear demonstration of the Government’s desire to physically re-establish its presence in all the Provinces through Solomon Commodities, starting in Pakera and Kirakira, Makira Ulawa Province and gradually to all the provinces and around our nation. The reinvention of CEMA into Solomon Commodities has signalled a new era for farmers throughout the provinces whose incomes depend largely on cocoa, copra, and other commodities. According to Mrs. Unusi, there are several outcomes that the Pakera Buying Centre will eventually achieve, the most notable outcome is to inspire farmers to actively participate in key commodities farming such as coconut, cocoa, and oil palm, as well as other emerging commodities farming such as spices, noni, kava, and other complementary economic activities in the rural communities and villages. The revival of buying centres will also improve the quality of production, value-adding in manufacturing and processing of local commodities for domestic and export markets, and ultimately contribute towards an increase in gross domestic production by 10% per annum starting in 2022. As one of the leading producers of these commodities, Makira Ulawa province is set to increase production which will eventually improve the livelihood of farmers and their families. Makira Premier Julian Maka’a said his people are truly excited with these latest developments that fulfil his government’s wish to see people re-engaged in the production of these vital commodities. The Premier is optimistic that the opening of the Pakera buying centre will no doubt trigger other commercial developments in the province, which will eventually improve the livelihood and wellbeing of his people. Mrs. Unusi says that these buying centres will be the commodities economic hubs in the provinces, aimed at bringing markets closer to farmers. This is vital towards enabling Solomon Commodities to re-starting its

purchasing, selling and exporting of our local commodities, whilst at the same time progressing on to establish refineries for downstream processing of all commodities for domestic and export markets. The implementation of downstream processing preparatory works will begin in July 2022 at the Solomon Commodities Refineries in Noro, Western Province and Russell’s, Central Islands Province. The establishment of these refineries by Solomon Commodities is in line with the DCGA Policy through the Ministry of Commerce to cease exports of all forms of raw commodities by 2028. “This is truly a huge benefit for our rural farmers, villagers in the Country,” Mrs. Unusi said. Solomon Commodities assures local farmers of their commitment and determination to reopen all the main buying centres by the third quarter of 2022, followed by the buying points and ports of call in later half of 2022. This will enable rural farmers to easily access these centres and ports of call to sell their produce. The renaming of CEMA to “Solomon Commodities” with the brand “Solomon Is. Organic” was launched by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and the Minister of Commerce, Frederick Kologeto during a ceremony at the Pacific Casino Hotel on June 1 2022. The launch marked twelve months and two days since the CEMA Revitalization and Recapitalization Strategy 2021 – 2027 report was officially launched and handed to Sogavare last year on 31 May 2021.

Up Next, Malu’u

Malu’u Buying Center to re-open in July

Preparatory works towards reopening the Malu’u Buying Centre in North Malaita have progressed successfully as Solomon Commodities now awaits the official signing of the Fixed Term Estate Title from the Ministry of Lands Housing and Survey. Following the successful reopening of Pakera in Makira Province, Malu’u Centre is set to become the second Commodity Buying center which SC will open since its rebranding announcement. Since May the project has completed 2 site visits, meetings with farmers in and around Malu’u and a Physical Assessment Report in 2021. The report included included plans, costing and bills of quantity to extend the existing warehouse, repairs and maintenance of Malu’u Buying Centre, warehouse and storage facilities and wharf with road for repairs as well. SC also completed 2 meetings with Malaita Provincial Government Premier, Executive and Provincial Administration in 2020 and 2021. The Provincial Government highly recommended for CEMA to reopen in Malu’u and Auki. SC anticipates that from June to December 2022 the Buying center should be ready and operational. “At the moment we are awaiting the Land Board approval for the FTE Title to be transferred to Fred Kwanairara to enable CEMA to lease the Property (former CEMA Buying Centre),” said Freda Unusi told Pacific Tenders. However, Mrs. Unusi noted that a Memorandum of Agreement will be signed between CEMA & Fred to enable repairs and maintenance of the Centre. “A 5-years Lease Agreement between CEMA and Fred will be signed later on once the FTE Title is transferred to Fred,” Unusi said. In the meantime, SC has recently launched tenders for Contractors who will be engaged to undertake repairs and maintenance work on the Malu’u Buying Centre. Work on the Centre should be completed by end of this month or extended to August 2022 and reopening will follow soon as the works are completed. Trading activities including purchasing of commodities – copra and cocoa will commence on the opening day as well. SC is of the understanding that the proposed MoA to be signed with Fred will pave the way to repair the Centre before reopening to start purchasing commodities from our rural farmers.