⬅ SECTORS

Financial Services

Working with regulatory authorities and banks to better provide financial products that assist Solomon Islanders, especially those in the provinces, to access financial services.

OUR Financial Services PROGRAM

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are significant employers and are often crucial suppliers of important commodities, goods and services. Importantly, a vibrant SME sector offers the best potential for an eventual broad private sector resurgence once the current crisis subsides. Particular attention therefore needs to be given to supporting this segment of the economy and access to credit to underpin SME’s revival plans are crucial during a pandemic and post-pandemic period. Improved access to financial services and credit by the private sector will help to drive economic growth and create more jobs – goals that are consistent with Strongim Bisnis’ mandate.

Working with regulatory authorities and banks to better provide financial products that assist Solomon Islanders, especially those in the provinces, to access financial services.

Strategy

Expand the shared agency and digital payment network. This includes incubation of mobile money products

Expand effective Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) business and financial management development services

Develop cost effective and appropriate SME credit products

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Expected Results

The anticipated results from successful interventions within the above areas are:

  • The agency banking network expands in rural areas through increased liquidity and financial management training.
  • Mobile money products expand, particularly in rural markets.
  • CBSI facilitates a robust and enabling regulatory environment for agency banking and mobile money.
  • Financial literacy training features in consumer education and marketing of agency and mobile money services. Linkages are facilitated between these products and business/women's associations.
  • Improved MSME business and financial management systems.
  • Improved financial proposals leads to increased SME lending.
  • Increased SME loans issued to individual women entrepreneurs.
  • From improved access to finance, more jobs are created, particularly for women, youth and People Living With Disability through MSME growth and direct involvement in the agency services value chain.
  • Access to credit, and improved business practices leads to MSME growth.
  • Ultimately, increased net income for households.

partnership & activities

Three key partnerships have been established with key private businesses in the cocoa sector, C-Corp Ltd, Island Enterprise, and Makira Gold.

Strongim Bisnis coordinated the 2018 SolChoc Cocoa and Chocolate Festival in partnership with MAL, RDP, PHAMA, ADRA, SICCI, and CEMA.

A major value-added processing feasibility study is underway, to be finalised early 2019.

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OUR Financial Services NEWS

Media release

April 30, 2021

Bringing Online Shopping To Solomon Islands With Kosi

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LATEST

News

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Media release
September 7, 2022

From local plantation timber to high-end furniture

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Media release
August 16, 2022

Solomon Islands and Australia join together to promote women in business

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Media release
August 9, 2022

Jobseekers with disabilities boosted by new employment database

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Our

Financial Services

Resources

Study On Savings Clubs And Sustainability, 2019

This study was commissioned in 2019 and provides information about savings clubs in the Solomon Islands and compares three different models that are used.

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Savings Clubs And Sustainability: Draft Findings

Strongim Bisnis commissioned a study into Savings Clubs in the Solomon Islands and factors that contribute to their sustainability.

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Explore Our Programs

Tackling the nation’s trade and investment challenges, we work to provide solutions for businesses and investors in the coconut, cocoa, tourism, waste management, timber, financial services and horticulture industries, while empowering women, youth and people living with disability.

Women's Economic Empowerment

Increasing gender equity and opportunities for women to access and take advantage of resources to create and obtain jobs and move into senior roles throughout the market.

Cocoa

Increasing exports and domestic production of value-added cocoa products that result in increased incomes and jobs.

Coconut

Strengthening growth of the coconut industry through marketing and diversification of the product range of existing producers, bringing sustainability and resilience to businesses.

Financial Services

Working with regulatory authorities and banks to better provide financial products that assist Solomon Islanders, especially those in the provinces, to access financial services.

Horticulture

Strongim Bisnis has identified farmers in Guadalcanal who produce fruits, vegetables, and root crops for sale through the Honiara Central Market. Fresh produce is important for the diet and livelihood of rural smallholder farming households and the organization recognizes the market's importance, especially to women and for the population's nutrition and health, with potential for growth due to population increase.

Timber

The Solomon Islands forestry sector has been the main contributor to the economy, providing up to 80% of foreign earnings for over 40 years. The government and donor partners aim to increase domestic processing and value-adding, leading to benefits such as more jobs for locals, reduced reliance on imports, and the expansion of local businesses.

Tourism

Improving demand-driven, sustainable tourism for leisure tourists, resulting in improved profitability for businesses and employment opportunities for communities.

Waste Management

Strongim Bisnis is working on waste streams (initially within Guadalcanal, Central and Western provinces) with the objective of finding sustainable and commercially viable solutions for recycling and waste removal/disposal services. This is aimed at driving economic growth and creating private sector jobs.

Youth & Disability Inclusion

Addressing the vulnerability of unemployed young women and men and the barriers for youth to be included in the economy – especially those who live with disabilities.