15 Apr 2011

Solomons Commerce Chamber welcomes budget

3:31 pm on 15 April 2011

The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the latest budget but says it still wants more signs of commitment to private sector involvement.

The record budget includes a small surplus.

The Chamber's chief executive officer, Calvin Ziru, says since the elections the new government has focussed on staying in power so it's encouraging to see a budget has finally been released.

He says the main difference from previous budgets is that growth in rural development will be driven by the Economic Bureau run out of the Prime Minister's office.

Mr Ziru says the private sector has a key role to play in the country's development.

"What's important to us and our point of view is that money will be expended where there will be the opportunity for private sector to lead these developments, whether it be infrastructure, whether it be telecommunications, or energy or transport."

Calvin Ziru says previous governments have talked about rural development but little evidence of rural economic progress is available.