Solomon Islands Permanent Representative to the United Nations Collin Beck says the country has a lot to learn from the experience of Sri Lanka as the two countries formally established diplomatic relations last month.
Ambassador Beck and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Dr Palitha Kohona has signed a Joint Communiqué on behalf the two countries in New York.
During the signing ceremony, Ambassador Beck expressed Solomon Islands’ interest in learning more about Sri Lanka and capitalizing on this new beginning.
He also noted that the establishment of diplomatic ties would give Solomon Islands the opportunity to learn from Sri Lanka and to further cooperate in the political, socio-economic and cultural fields.
"There is much that the Solomon Islands can learn from Sri Lanka’s agricultural successes and international marketing. The international success of the relatively small nation that has established a global reputation as a producer of sought after tea products is a case in point. That success would be worth emulating for the Pacific’s own indigenously developed brands,” Ambassador Beck said.
For several years now, Sri Lankans have been working in key positions in several Pacific Island countries in a range of private industries and government organizations such as aviation, distribution and logistics, banking and finance and the judiciary.
“Today, the two countries share similar goals as developing countries, both internationally and domestically. Sri Lanka having reached middle income status, and having achieved most of the MDGs, would be happy to share its experiences with Solomon Islands,” Dr Kohona said.
Sri Lanka is building its footprint in the region years after having had a growing presence in several countries through its highly sought after skilled work force.
Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit