Solomons' govt extends economic stimulus deadline for rural communities

10:34 am on 1 July 2020

The Solomon Islands government has extended the deadline for people who live rurally to apply for its economic stimulus package.

The roll out of the $US37.5 million initiative has been slow going with thousands of applications submitted.

The Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Robson Djokovic says support for the country's exporters of copra, cocoa and kava is complete.

But an extension has been given for the provinces with awareness programmes still ongoing.

"This is important for this economic stimulus package roll out that all of our people particularly the rural sector which this economic stimulus package is targetting are given the benefit of firsthand information from the national government," Robson Djokovic said.

Point Cruz Wharf in Honiara

A ship being loaded with goods bound for the provinces at the Point Cruz Wharf in Honiara. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins

The extension will be for around two weeks.

Robson Djokovic, who was speaking during the Covid-19 taskforce's weekly update on Sunday, said it was also important for people to understand that the stimulus package was for existing and ongoing businesses and initiatives and not new business ventures or start ups.