13 November 2015
Australian Indigenous leader Warren Mundine meets Prime Minister Sogavare
Australian Indigenous leader and prominent businessman, Mr Warren Mundine, met with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare today to discuss opportunities for growth in Solomon Islands.
Mr Mundine and Australian High Commissioner Andrew Byrne reaffirmed Australia’s strong partnership with Solomon Islands, focused on stability, economic growth and human development.
Mr Mundine is currently Chair of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (AICC) and Managing Director of Nyungga Black Group, a company that assists traditional landowners to promote economic, environmental and cultural development in New South Wales.
Mr Mundine congratulated Prime Minister Sogavare on the DCC Government’s pursuit of national land reform. He said there were parallels with Australian Indigenous communities who have pursued similar economic opportunities on traditional land under Native Title.
“Traditional landowners and custodians have the right to pursue economic development on their land and to ensure the benefits are sustainable.
“It’s even better when the benefits give opportunities for permanent and meaningful work, as well as the chance to obtain training and skills and other spin-off business activities.”
He said the best examples of using land for economic growth in Australia were when developers and traditional landowners worked in partnership to negotiate agreements that produced fair outcomes for future generations.
Mr Mundine said he was pleased to hear examples of similar partnerships existing in Solomon Islands, such as those in the oil palm industry on Guadalcanal Plains.
Mr Mundine is currently visiting Solomon Islands as a special guest of the Australian Government. He will be the keynote speaker at tonight’s Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards this Saturday, 14 November.