GUADALCANAL PREMIER Hon Anthony Veke’s visit to Canada is sending strong promising message to Canadian farm owners across Canada that the Province of Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands is ready to engage in bi-lateral trade and Labour Mobility between the two countries and that he wants to forge strong partnership with Canada and Canadians.
“I can confirm that my government and people are ready to engage with Canadians. Guadalcanal Province is open for business. The only way I can contribute to improving lives of the people of Guadalcanal is by expanding opportunity with our partners such as Canada and this is exactly what I am doing here today. My engagement with Canadian politicians, business leaders and Canadian federal government only tells me and my government one thing – Canada wants to work with my people and my province and Solomon Islands. I cannot just miss this opportunity,” Premier Veke said.
Premier Veke is considered one of Solomon Islands’ current strongest Political Premiers whose government after taking office just within 6 weeks has made significant progress on labour mobility with the Hotel and tourism sector council in Canada.
Canada is also reported to have asked Premier Veke to consider sending workers for an extended period of time to 24 months.
Presently Guadalcanal tourism workers are seeking employment only for 120 days (4 months) .
However, Solomon Islands Consular General to Canada His Excellency Ashwant Dwivedi will not discuss the proposal by the Canadian authorities.
“I decline to provide any comment on issues or matters that refer to any arrangement or agreement that may involve Her Majesty’s Cabinet (Executives) of the Provincial government of Guadalcanal or the Central government of Solomon Islands. This information is privileged and confidential until such time deemed appropriate to be released by the respective governments,” statement from Solomon Islands consular general’s office in Canada said.
During a reception attended by Mayors, councilors, top business leaders, senior government officials of Canada including Canada’s top award winning wine producers in Kelowna, British Columbia province, Guadalcanal Premier Veke asked Canadian wine producers to sell Canadian wine to much “ thirsty growing tourism market in the Solomon Islands” using his province as a distribution point, while his province is ready to sell cocoa, virgin coconut oil and even explore the opportunity to export fresh coconut and vegetables to Canada.
Premier Veke promised Canadian businesses that his province would also explore opportunity to export fresh vegetables to Canada.
Fiji, an Island nation located 2 hours by flight from capital city Honiara, presently exports many different varieties of vegetables to Canada and its export of vegetables last year was recorded at over US $13 million dollars.
Premier Veke said that he is willing to take the challenge to explore the opportunity to export to Canada as taking such a lead will put his people in “employment” and help generate much needed income for the people of Guadalcanal province and Solomon Islands as a whole.
Consul General Dwivedi said that Canadian regulation for importation of fresh fruits and vegetables from Solomon Islands to Canada is much simplified compared to other countries.
“Solomon Islands export market can win from the agriculture import policy that is designed for exporters from Solomon Islands. It is simplified. There is no need to invest into fumigation machines. This provides Solomon Islands with an added opportunity to export fruits and vegetables mostly chemical free into Canada. So Solomon’s So Fresh,” Consul General Dwivedi said.
Premier Veke during his visit also spoke with Canadian Fruit Growers Association members who have shown keen interest to hire agriculture workers on a long-term basis for their farms in Canada.
Canada each year hires 40,000 farm workers on temporary basis.
“I am very much interested in further pursuing this opportunity with agriculture farms in Canada who wish to hire workers from Guadalcanal Province. I am aware that there are some regulations we must meet and training our people must obtain in area of agriculture and handling of pesticides etc. My province is working with CITREC and Canadian government to strengthen this area of training as opportunity presents itself to prepare our citizens for such job opportunity,” Premier Veke said.
A Canadian government official said that Premier Veke is very likely to be invited by the Canadian Federal government for bilateral meetings on labour mobility in September when Canadian parliament will resume.
— PACNEWS CANADA
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