Australia Bolsters Customs Law And Border Protection In Solomon Islands
Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, today announced a joint Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Australian Government US$600,000 grant package, which aims to modernise and improve customs legislation in Solomon Islands.
Minister O’Connor said the package will support a full revision of the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Act to help streamline customs processes.
“The ADB and the Australian Government will assist the Solomon Islands Government to draft a Customs and Excise Bill for consideration by its Parliament. The process will invite a wide range of stakeholders to participate in the review,” he said.
New legislation, tailored to the Solomon Islands’ needs will improve revenue collection and border protection systems.
“The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service will deliver a comprehensive training program to the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division and the trading community, to support the implementation of the new legislation in the island nation.”
“The revision of the Customs and Excise Act is part of the ADB supported Solomon Islands Economic Recovery Support Program”, said C. Lawrence Greenwood, Jr., ADB Vice President. “The Program supports improved fiscal management, and structural measures that will aid economic recovery and help preserve the delivery of basic services.”
The grant builds on the close cooperation enjoyed between the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, which has assisted the Solomon Islands in strengthening its border management controls and revenue collection capabilities since 2005.
The co-financed grant package is part of the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), established by ADB in 2006 with co-financing from the Australian Government.
Over the past three years, PSDI has helped develop and enact seven modern commercial laws in the Pacific region, with nine more Bills under preparation.
These range from innovative company laws – making it easier for entrepreneurs to form, grow and close companies – to the development of personal property securities, facilitating better access to credit for entrepreneurs.
The initiative also supported the strengthening of business laws to encourage competition and ensure consumer protection in small island states.
Topics: 2010, ADB, Asia, Asian Development Bank, Australia, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Border Protection, business, business laws, C. Lawrence Greenwood, credit, Customs, customs law, economic development, economic growth, economic recovery, Economy, entrepreneurs, Excise Act, Governance, government, immigration, island, Island States, management, monitor, news, Pacific, Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative, Parliament, PSDI, RAMSI, Regional Assistance to Solomon Islands, safety, security, social services, society, Solomon Islands, stakeholders, trade
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