AGP Executive Report

Maritime Security Training: The US and Pacific allies carried out a live-fire sinking of the decommissioned USS Juneau in a SINKEX exercise, with a Japanese submarine torpedoing the cleaned-up vessel as part of Valiant Shield 2026. Food & Farming Skills: WorldFish and the Kastom Gaden Association trained 36 Western Province secondary students in organic farming and nutrition, linking local food systems to healthier diets and food security. Ocean Science at Sea: Solomon Islands student Florence Townshend joined Earth Sciences New Zealand and SPC’s “Floating University” aboard RV Tangaroa to learn seabed and marine research methods firsthand. Fuel Measurement for Fair Trade: Australia’s National Measurement Institute donated fuel trolleys to Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations so pump testing can improve accurate fuel sales and protect government revenue. Digital Shipping Services: Solomon Ports launched a “Shipping Schedule Hub App” for real-time domestic vessel updates, aiming to improve travel planning and connectivity. Health Tech in Practice: China Medical Team surgeons at NRH used dual-endoscope, laser-assisted minimally invasive surgery to remove complex kidney stones, with local doctors gaining training. Road Safety Works: Lane markings and related traffic controls began at Tandai in West Honiara as part of wider road improvement efforts. Malaria & Scholarships: Japan signed grants worth about SBD$14.6m for malaria support and postgraduate scholarships for Solomon Islands government officials. Mining Policy Support: PNG offered Solomon Islands resource-law and technical expertise, including a target of securing at least 55% of mining benefits for the state. Climate & Food Pressure: Reports from the region highlight El Niño-linked dry conditions affecting harvests, with Solomon Islands markets seeing reduced slippery cabbage supplies.

Pacific trade readiness: A Pacific Islands Export Survey has hit its highest participation in more than a decade, with early signs that exporters are diversifying and adopting digital tools even as finance gets harder. Maritime tech: Solomon Ports Authority launched a Shipping Schedule Hub App for real-time domestic vessel updates, delays and cancellations. Road safety works: Lane markings and traffic signs are starting at Tandai in West Honiara as part of wider road improvements. Health & training: China Medical Team doctors completed a minimally invasive kidney-stone surgery at NRH using dual-endoscope technology, with local staff training alongside. Education exchange: Seven SINU students began the first University of Melbourne Winter School Programme under a 2025 MoU. Governance & audits: The World Bank backed the Office of the Auditor General’s Community Participatory Audit, aiming to boost transparency in constituency development funds. Climate & culture: A Solomon Siren sculpture marks 10 years since Kale Island was lost to sea-level rise, linking art to climate action. Regional resources: PNG offered mining policy support to Solomon Islands, including expertise to shape a modern resource regime.

Panpipe Culture: Solomon Islands National Panpipe Festival will host a two-day panpipe symposium at the National Art Gallery (July 2–3) bringing academics, practitioners and SINU researchers together on origins, preservation, and protecting traditional knowledge. Maritime Tech: Solomon Ports Authority has launched its Shipping Schedule Hub App for real-time domestic vessel updates, delays and announcements, marking a push toward modern digital maritime services. Road Safety Works: Lane markings and traffic signs are starting at Tandai in West Honiara as part of wider Central Honiara road improvements. Health & Training: A Chinese medical team at NRH, with local staff, completed a minimally invasive kidney stone surgery using dual-endoscope technology, also serving as training for Solomon Islands doctors. Scholarships: Japan signed grant agreements worth about SBD$14.6m for malaria support and postgraduate scholarships for Solomon Islands government officials. Governance & Audits: The World Bank backed the Office of the Auditor General’s Community Participatory Audit, aiming to strengthen transparency in how public funds are used. Regional Learning: Pacific leaders and Indigenous advocates met for an IUCN-led conservation exchange focused on customary governance and climate resilience.

Indigenous-led Conservation: Pacific traditional leaders, conservation groups and youth advocates are meeting this week for a regional learning exchange on Indigenous governance, climate resilience and sustainable financing, convened by IUCN and Conservation International with Solomon Islands among participants. Road Safety Upgrade: Lane markings and traffic signs have started at Tandai in West Honiara as part of Honiara’s broader road improvement programme, aiming to improve flow and reduce crashes. Mining Policy Support: Papua New Guinea will share mining policy and resource governance experience with Solomon Islands, including a target of securing at least 55% of project economic benefits for the state. Digital Maritime Services: Solomon Ports Authority launched its Shipping Schedule Hub App, bringing real-time domestic vessel movement updates to Android users. Health & Training: A Chinese medical team at NRH carried out minimally invasive kidney stone surgery using dual-endoscope technology, with local doctors involved. Community Accountability: The World Bank backed the Office of the Auditor General’s Community Participatory Audit initiative to strengthen transparency and citizen involvement. Sports Science & Facilities: SINU’s Dr Clyde Puilingi was appointed to a UNESCO expert task force on traditional pharmacopoeia in sport, and Solomon Islands’ National Tennis Centre received ITF White Level Facility recognition.

Mining Policy Push: Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape says PNG will share decades of mining law and resource governance know-how with Solomon Islands as it drafts a modern resource regime, including support from PNG mining firms and a fiscal model aiming for at least 55% of project benefits for the State. Maritime Tech Upgrade: Solomon Ports has launched a “Shipping Schedule Hub” app for real-time domestic vessel schedules and travel updates, marking a step in digital maritime services for Honiara and the provinces. Health & Training: Japan signed grants worth about SBD$14.6m for Solomon Islands scholarships and malaria support, while a Chinese medical team at NRH delivered minimally invasive kidney stone surgery using dual-endoscope laser technology with local doctor training. Climate & Food Pressure: El Niño-linked dry weather is reducing harvests in Honiara, with slippery cabbage supplies tightening, and the wider region faces worsening food security risks. Community Accountability: The World Bank backs Solomon Islands’ Office of the Auditor General Community Participatory Audit, boosting citizen involvement in how public funds are checked. Science & Culture: A new study highlights how Indigenous oral traditions across the Pacific can inform volcanic hazard understanding, including cases from Solomon Islands. Education Exchange: Seven SINU students have begun the University of Melbourne Winter School Programme under a 2025 MoU.

Maritime Tech: Solomon Ports Authority has launched its first-ever Shipping Schedule Hub App, giving Android users real-time domestic vessel schedules, delay/cancellation notifications, and travel announcements—aimed at improving connectivity between Honiara and the provinces. Health & Training: A 5th China Medical Team at the National Referral Hospital carried out a successful minimally invasive kidney-stone surgery using dual-endoscope and holmium laser methods, with local doctors trained alongside the visiting team. Climate & Culture: The Solomon Siren underwater sculpture in Isabel Province marks the story of Kale Island’s loss to sea-level rise, using inscribed dates to track flooding milestones and future projections. Food Security: Honiara markets are seeing less slippery cabbage as El Niño-linked dry weather cuts harvests, shrinking bundle sizes and tightening supply. Research & Education: Seven SINU students have begun the University of Melbourne Winter School Programme under a 2025 MoU, joining field trips and masterclasses to strengthen exchanges and research links. Governance: The World Bank backed the Office of the Auditor General’s Community Participatory Audit initiative, pushing for stronger public accountability through community involvement in how funds are checked. Regional Science: A new study highlights how Indigenous oral traditions across the Pacific—including Solomon Islands—can reveal volcanic eruption histories and improve disaster preparedness.

Maritime Tech: Solomon Ports Authority has launched a “Shipping Schedule Hub” app for real-time domestic vessel updates, delays and announcements—aimed at improving travel planning between Honiara and the provinces. Regional Resources: Papua New Guinea says it will help Solomon Islands build a stronger mining sector by sharing legal and technical expertise as both countries discuss new resource governance and investment rules. Digital Ports Expansion: SIPA also outlined plans to grow the Honiara Domestic Port, including a new wharf, extra loading ramps and possible reclamation near the Central Market to ease congestion. Health Tech: A Chinese medical team at the National Referral Hospital carried out minimally invasive kidney stone surgery using dual-endoscope and laser tools, with local doctors trained alongside. Climate & Food Security: SPREP is urging Pacific communities to prepare for El Niño impacts, while Honiara markets report reduced slippery cabbage harvests due to the prolonged dry season. Education & Research: Seven SINU students have joined the University of Melbourne Winter School, and SINU’s Dr Clyde Puilingi has been appointed to a UNESCO expert task force on traditional pharmacopoeia in sport. Governance & Accountability: The World Bank backed Solomon Islands’ Community Participatory Audit initiative to strengthen public oversight of constituency development funds. Science & Culture: A new study highlights how Indigenous oral traditions across the Pacific can improve volcanic hazard understanding, including cases from Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Media & Culture: Tavuli News signed a media cooperation agreement with Guizhou Today Convergent Media Group in Guiyang, setting up news exchanges, joint reporting, journalist visits, and training in digital journalism and multimedia storytelling. Film & Youth Skills: Tavuli News also secured Solomon Islands’ spot in the inaugural People of the Pasifika 48-Hour Film Challenge, with national selection of five teams, workshops in August, and a 4–6 September 48-hour shoot-and-edit sprint before a September regional contest. Health & Training: China Medical Team surgeons at NRH performed a successful minimally invasive kidney stone operation using dual-endoscope and holmium laser tech, with local doctors involved for skills transfer. Climate & Food: El Niño-linked dry weather is cutting slippery cabbage harvests in Honiara markets, shrinking bundles and pushing up competition for limited supply. Governance & Accountability: The World Bank backed the Office of the Auditor General’s Community Participatory Audit, aiming to strengthen transparency by letting communities help examine how public funds are used. Infrastructure: Honiara’s Central Road works are progressing, including the Hot Bread Roundabout upgrades to improve traffic flow and road safety.

Solomon Islands war history: ABC Riverina reports that Bougainville veteran Private Michael Paice received a Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery in 1945, but he never spoke about it—until his daughter’s research brought the story to light. Gender & health: A global roundup highlights how violence against women remains extreme in the Pacific, with Papua New Guinea flagged among the worst by international agencies, including figures that also implicate Solomon Islands in regional comparisons. Medical tech in-country: The National Referral Hospital says a Chinese medical team, working with local staff, successfully performed minimally invasive dual-endoscope surgery to remove complex kidney and ureter stones, using a holmium laser and training local doctors. Climate-smart training: Solomon Islands youth and officials completed a 14-day climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries seminar in China, focusing on climate-smart aquaculture, smart farming, and practical technology visits. Governance & transparency: The World Bank backs Solomon Islands’ Office of the Auditor General Community Participatory Audit, aiming to strengthen accountability through community-led scrutiny of constituency development funds. Sports science & facilities: SINU’s Dr Clyde Puilingi joins a UNESCO expert task force on traditional pharmacopoeia in sport, while the National Tennis Centre earns ITF White Level Facility recognition. Food security pressure: Honiara markets report slippery cabbage supplies are running low as El Niño-linked dry weather suppresses harvests.

Gender Violence Watch: A new global snapshot highlights how widespread violence against women remains, with Papua New Guinea flagged among the worst in the Pacific and Solomon Islands listed alongside other high-risk countries. Health Tech in Honiara: Doctors at the National Referral Hospital, with China’s 5th Medical Team, completed a minimally invasive kidney-stone surgery using dual-endoscope and laser tools, with local staff trained during the 90-minute procedure. Climate & Food Security: El Niño-linked dry weather is cutting harvests in Honiara, with slippery cabbage supplies running low as farmers report suppressed growth and smaller bundles at markets. Infrastructure & Transport: Road works in Central Honiara are progressing, including the Hot Bread Roundabout upgrades aimed at improving safety and traffic flow. Ports & Logistics: Solomon Islands Ports Authority plans to expand the Honiara Domestic Port with a new wharf and loading ramps, plus future reclamation near the Central Market area. Digital Health & Research Recognition: SINU’s Dr Clyde Puilingi has been appointed to UNESCO’s 2026–2027 task force on traditional pharmacopoeia in sport ethics and integrity. Climate-Resilient Training: Solomon Islands youth and officials completed a 14-day climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries seminar in China, focusing on smart farming and aquaculture. Community Accountability: The World Bank backs Solomon Islands’ Auditor General’s Community Participatory Audit initiative to strengthen transparency in how public funds are used. Sport Facilities: The National Tennis Centre has earned ITF White Level Facility recognition, opening doors for ITF support and athlete development. Volcano Knowledge: A regional study argues Indigenous oral traditions can add place-based insights to volcanic hazard understanding, including cases across the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Food Security Under El Niño: Honiara shoppers report slippery cabbage supplies are tightening as the prolonged dry season suppresses harvests, with vendors linking the shortage to El Niño and smaller bundles being sold to stretch limited stock. Transport & Infrastructure: Road works on Honiara’s main road between Hot Bread Roundabout and Honiara City Council are progressing, including subgrade/subbase preparation and concrete works around the Hotbread Roundabout to improve safety and traffic flow. Ports & Logistics: Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) commissioned the Kulabule Jetty and says it will expand the Honiara Domestic Port with a new wharf, extra loading ramps, and possible reclamation near the Central Market to ease congestion. Climate-Resilient Skills: A Solomon Islands delegation completed a 14-day climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries seminar in China, with youth and MRD officers learning smart farming and aquaculture approaches. Science & Heritage: Solomon Islands National University’s Dr Clyde Puilingi was appointed to a UNESCO expert task force on traditional pharmacopoeia in sport ethics and integrity, while another story highlights how Indigenous oral traditions can improve volcanic hazard understanding across the Pacific. Governance & Accountability: The World Bank backed the Office of the Auditor General’s Community Participatory Audit initiative to strengthen transparency and community involvement in how public funds are used.

Climate & Food Security: Honiara shoppers are seeing less slippery cabbage as El Niño-linked dry weather suppresses harvests, with vendors saying bundles are getting smaller to stretch limited supply. Roads & Safety: Central Honiara’s Hot Bread Roundabout works are progressing under the Land and Maritime Connectivity Project, with subgrade, concrete and safety-focused upgrades aimed at easing congestion. Ports & Transport Tech: Solomon Islands Ports Authority commissioned the Kulabule Jetty and says it will expand the Honiara Domestic Port with a new wharf, loading ramps, and planned reclamation to improve capacity and reduce city traffic pressure. Research & Traditional Knowledge: A new regional study argues Indigenous oral traditions can reveal volcanic eruption histories and warning signs that modern surveys may miss—highlighting a path to better disaster preparedness for the Pacific. Capacity Building: Solomon Islands youth and officials completed climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries training in China, focusing on climate-smart farming, aquaculture and smart fisheries. Health & Water: A Solomon Islands student was named a 2026 Borlaug Scholar for research on how water access shapes health, agriculture and long-term food security. Sport Science & Ethics: SINU’s Dr Clyde Puilingi appointed to UNESCO’s Traditional Pharmacopoeia task force for sport values, ethics and anti-doping. Governance & Accountability: The World Bank backs Solomon Islands’ Auditor General Community Participatory Audit, pushing stronger community-led oversight of public funds.

Drug War Spillover: A gangland-style cocaine shooting in Ho Chi Minh City has led to arrests of alleged suspects, while Australia reports record cocaine busts and links the trade to Pacific transit routes. Digital & Security: Interpol warns of a sharp rise in cybercrime across Asia and the South Pacific, as regional police say crime is becoming more digital and cross-border. Health & Research: Solomon Islands National University Dean Dr Clyde Puilingi has been appointed to UNESCO’s Global Task Force on Traditional Pharmacopoeia in sport ethics and anti-doping. Food Security & Climate Prep: SPREP urges Pacific communities to prepare for El Niño impacts after it was declared underway, as El Niño-driven drought and frost threaten crops and nutrition. Local Infrastructure: Solomon Islands Ports Authority plans to expand the Honiara Domestic Port with a new wharf and ramps, building on its long-term port master plan. Community Accountability: The World Bank backs Solomon Islands’ Office of the Auditor General Community Participatory Audit to strengthen transparency in how public funds are used. Science for Hazards: A new regional study says Indigenous oral traditions can reveal volcanic eruption histories and improve disaster preparedness, including cases from the Solomon Islands. Training in China: A Solomon Islands delegation completed a climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries seminar in Wuxi, with youth and rural development officers set to apply lessons at home. Sport Facilities: The National Tennis Centre has been recognised by the ITF as a White Level Facility, opening doors for funding and coaching support.

Solar Transport Expansion: A solar-powered canoe project led by Kara Solar in Ecuador’s Amazon is now expanding across Brazil, Peru, Suriname—and has reached Solomon Islands—using community-run solar canoes, recharge stations and renewable energy to cut fuel costs, pollution and noise. Public Accountability: The World Bank has backed Solomon Islands’ Office of the Auditor General Community Participatory Audit, pushing for communities to directly understand and examine how constituency development funds are used. Port & Infrastructure: Solomon Islands Ports Authority says it will expand Honiara’s Domestic Port with a new wharf, extra loading ramps, and planned reclamation near the Central Market to ease congestion and boost capacity. Climate-Resilient Skills: Youth and officials from Solomon Islands completed a 14-day climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries seminar in China, focusing on climate-smart farming, aquaculture and practical tech links. Local Science Recognition: SINU Dean Dr Clyde Puilingi has been appointed to UNESCO’s Global Task Force on Traditional Pharmacopoeia in sport ethics and integrity. Sports Facility Upgrade: The National Tennis Centre has received ITF White Level Facility recognition, opening doors for ITF support and athlete development. Volcanic Risk Knowledge: A new regional study argues Indigenous oral traditions can improve understanding of volcanic eruptions and strengthen disaster preparedness when paired with scientific data.

El Niño Food Crisis: Papua New Guinea’s Highlands are bracing for hunger as frost, drought and pests wipe out gardens and livestock, with Oxfam PNG warning up to 3 million people could be affected and some households may have food for only two to three months. Community Accountability: The World Bank is backing Solomon Islands’ Office of the Auditor General Community Participatory Audit, aiming to strengthen transparency by letting communities help examine how constituency development funds are used. Forests & Carbon Promises: A new report revisits Makira-Ulawa logging’s broken promises—machines left behind, forests nearly gone—and asks whether carbon trading can still help restore livelihoods. Digital Health Leadership: PATH names new Asia-Pacific and Africa leaders to expand digital health and AI work, including regional telemedicine and health data systems that have reached Solomon Islands. Traditional Knowledge & Volcano Science: A regional study says Indigenous oral traditions can reveal volcanic eruption histories and hazards, supporting better disaster preparedness when paired with modern science. Sport Science Recognition: SINU’s Dr Clyde Puilingi earns a UNESCO expert role on traditional pharmacopoeia and sport ethics, while the National Tennis Centre gains ITF White Level Facility status. Climate-Resilient Training: Solomon Islands youth and officials complete a China seminar on climate-smart agriculture and fisheries, focused on practical aquaculture and farming approaches. Road Safety Push: MID, with World Bank support, wraps national road safety training and conferences to set up the National Road Safety Council framework. Maritime Tech & Heritage: Honiara commissions the Kulabule Jetty, honoring a long-time ports leader and upgrades to domestic maritime services. El Niño Prep in the Pacific: SPREP urges Pacific communities to start preparing now as an El Niño event is declared underway.

Central Banking Digital Future: Solomon Islands’ Central Bank (CBSI) used its 50th anniversary forum to outline a next-50-years plan that includes a possible Central Bank Digital Currency, alongside upgrades for digital tech, climate resilience, financial inclusion, AI and cyber security. Public Accountability Audits: The World Bank backed the Office of the Auditor General’s Community Participatory Audit in Honiara, saying it strengthens transparency by letting communities track how constituency funds are used. Climate-Resilient Farming Training: A Solomon Islands delegation completed a 14-day seminar in China on climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries, with youth and rural development officers set to apply smart farming and aquaculture lessons at home. Indigenous Conservation Exchange: Australia supported an Indigenous Knowledge Exchange between Solomon Islands Rangers Association and Torres Strait Regional Authority rangers, sharing traditional ecological knowledge for sustainable resource management. Maritime Infrastructure Upgrade: Solomon Ports Authority commissioned the new Kulabule Jetty at Honiara’s domestic terminal, a SBD$28 million project aimed at easing congestion and improving inter-island passenger and shipping services. Sport Science & Traditional Knowledge: SINU Dean Dr Clyde Puilingi was appointed to UNESCO’s Global Task Force on Traditional Pharmacopoeia in sport ethics and anti-doping, boosting Solomon Islands’ voice in global research and clean sport. Volcano Knowledge for Disaster Prep: A new regional study says Indigenous oral traditions across the Pacific—including the Solomon Islands—can reveal past eruption patterns that modern hazard science may miss, improving disaster preparedness. El Niño Prep Push: SPREP urged Pacific communities to start preparing now after El Niño was declared underway, warning impacts will vary but early action matters.