Canada-Solomon Islands relations
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Bilateral relations
Diplomatic relations between Canada and the Solomon Islands were established on July 7, 1978. Bilateral relations are cordial and enhanced by a shared membership in international organizations such as the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization. Canada is also a Dialogue Partner of the Pacific Islands Forum to which the Solomon Islands belongs.
Areas of cooperation include gender equality/women’s empowerment projects and climate change initiatives. Canada and the Solomon Islands also share interests the fishing industry and are party to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement.
In the Solomon Islands, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada to Australia, in Canberra. The High Commissioner of Solomon Islands in New York City and an Honorary Consul in Vancouver represent Solomon Islands in Canada. About 15 people who live in Canada were born in Solomon Islands according to the 2021 Canadian census. Citizens of Solomon Islands do not need a visa to visit Canada.
Trade relations
Canada's trade relations with Solomon Islands are managed by the Trade Commissioner Service at the High Commission of Canada to Australia, in Canberra. Canada has limited trade relations with the Solomon Islands. In 2022, total two-way trade was $494,155. Canadian merchandise exports amounted to $60,526, comprising mainly of machinery parts, while imports amounted to $433,629 and were mostly of machinery parts, articles of plastic and aluminum.
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Development
Canada supports small and community-focused projects in Solomon Islands through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Canada has contributed over $458,000 to organizations implementing CFLI in Solomon Islands since 2015. In 2022, Canada contributed $60,000 to a project addressing human trafficking and sexual and gender-based violence.
Solomon Islands has also been a beneficiary of the following projects in the Pacific Islands region:
The Kiwa Initiative (2020 to 2026) is a $79 million multi-donor Pan-Pacific regional initiative funded by Canada, France, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand. Since March 2020, Canada has contributed a total of $16 million to the Kiwa initiative through a Contribution Arrangement with the Agence française de développement (AFD). The Kiwa initiative strengthens capacities of local and national authorities and civil society organizations to design and implement small to large-scale biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation projects at local, national and regional levels through granting/funding facilities.
Through UN Women (2018 to 2023), Canada provided $3.85 million to implement the Pacific Islands Markets for Change Project which supports female merchants in rural and urban markets by ensuring that markets provide safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory environments.
The Strengthening Small-Scale Fisheries in the Pacific Islands (2020 to 2023) is a project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and to which Canada contributed $2 million. It aims to increase the resilience and adaptability of fishermen and fisherwomen to the climate changes affecting their livelihoods and food security, in the vulnerable coastal communities.
The Canadian Trade and Investment Facility for Development (CTIF) (2018 to 2025) is a demand-driven $11.6 million technical assistance facility designed to support poverty reduction and women’s empowerment.
The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) (2021 to 2023) is a project implemented by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and to which Canada contributed $9.5 million. It aims to support Pacific Small Island Developing States and others in securing and structuring finance for priority climate projects by cultivating a network of highly trained, embedded climate finance advisors.
The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI) (2018 to 2023) is a project implemented by the World Bank, and to which Canada contributed $1.5 million. The PCRAFI seeks to provide the Pacific island countries with disaster risk assessment and financing tools, including sovereign insurance, for enhanced disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (WCPFC) Special Requirements Fund has received contributions of $68,000 to $100,000 from Canada in recent years. It aims to support capacity-building among the members of the Commission such as Solomon Islands.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Solomon Islands work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- Commonwealth
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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