17 Mar 2009

Solomon Islands not able to increase rural income

4:19 pm on 17 March 2009

The Solomon Island's Government says it was not able to achieve its target activities last year on its policy intention to increase rural income generating activities.

The target areas include establishing village based financial enterprise training skills development in five provinces, provision of financial literacy programs in 25 constituencies, as well as provision of relevant training and support to 150 businesses within the first year.

The Solomon's Minister for Commerce, Trade and Employment, Francis Billy Hilly, told Parliament the goals were a policy intention of the previous government.

But he says the project did not eventuate, as funding for the programme was terminated.

However the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports he said that in view of the importance of the policy intention, the Ministry will sign an agreement next month with three business training organisations.