Minister for Commerce, Industries and Employment, Francis Billy Hilly said the boost was a direct result of the significant legislative reforms government has undertaken to relax previous challenges faced by foreign investors.
A total of 248 new foreign investors registered their businesses in the country in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
In 2007, 126 applications were approved; of which 75% started operations, while in 2008, 122 applications were approved; of which 50% already into active operation.
Minister Hilly said government generated revenues of SB$1.8 billion in 2007 and SB$490 million dollars in 2008 from Foreign Investment.
Many of the investments are in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, construction and engineering sectors.
Minister Hilly also explained that wholesaling and retailing is no longer a reserved commercial activity under the 2005 Foreign Investment Act.
As result, 26 foreign investors took up wholesaling and retailing in 2007, and 65 in 2008.
Copyright @ 2009. Government Communications Unit. All Rights Reserved.
Foreign Investors Increase Substantially
The Government today has announced a boost in foreign investment, two years after the Foreign Investment Act 2005 came into force.
Solomon Islands experiencing an increase in foreign investment, new buildings are being built to accommodate the increase.
Source: STO Archives
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