Solomon Islands Advances Maritime Priorities at 6th Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting
The Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) has reaffirmed Solomon Islands’ commitment to transforming the maritime sector following its participation in the Sixth Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (6th PRETMM) and the 7th Heads of Maritime Meeting held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 4–8 May 2026.
The regional meeting concluded with the adoption of the Manubada Call to Action, calling for stronger implementation, investment and partnerships to scale maritime connectivity and resilience across the Blue Pacific.
The Solomon Islands delegation for the maritime segment was led by Permanent Secretary for Infrastructure Development, Mr. Allan Lilia, and included SIMA Board Chair Mr. John Hugo Bugoro, SIMA Director Mr. Thierry Nervale, and SIMA Manager Executive Office Mrs. Nester Nalangu-Dara.
A key outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of the Pacific One-Maritime Framework (POMF) 2026–2050, which will serve as the region’s overarching framework for a safe, secure, resilient and sustainable maritime transport sector. Solomon Islands, as Chair of the POMF Steering Committee, played a leading role in advancing the framework from development to ministerial endorsement.
Transport Ministers also endorsed the Regional Strategy for Pacific Women in Maritime 2026–2031, aimed at strengthening gender inclusion and increasing opportunities for women across the maritime sector.
During the Heads of Maritime deliberations, Solomon Islands strongly advocated for greater regional focus on maritime investment and financing, maritime education and labour mobility. SIMA highlighted that maritime transport remains the lifeline of Pacific communities and that stronger investment is urgently needed to modernise ageing fleets, improve maritime safety and create sustainable employment pathways for Pacific seafarers.
In this context, Solomon Islands presented outcomes from its Ocean Accounting for Maritime Transport pilot project, which identified that the country’s domestic commercial fleet of 183 vessels has an average age of 25 years and requires approximately SBD 400 million for fleet modernisation, alongside continued investment in maritime workforce development that generate incomes of SBD 200 million every year.
The country also promoted the development of a Regional Maritime Development and Investment Programme under the POMF to help Pacific Island countries mobilise financing for vessel replacement, maritime infrastructure and workforce development.
Building on existing collaborative arrangements Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands delegation advocated for sub-regional maritime cooperation initiatives focused on technical exchanges, peer learning and coordinated maritime governance.
Speaking following the meeting, Head of Delegation Mr. Allan Lilia said the outcomes represent an important step toward practical implementation and stronger Pacific-led maritime cooperation.
“For Solomon Islands, the priority now is implementation. We must work together with our regional partners and development partners to mobilise investment, modernise our maritime sector and create sustainable maritime employment and skills opportunities for our people, particularly our growing youth population.”
The 6th PRETMM outcomes will now inform broader regional discussions under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders and COP31 engagements.