YECSI signs partnership with NZ High Commission

The Young Entrepreneurs Council Solomon Islands (YECSI) and the New Zealand Government were pleased to formalise a partnership to support the development of young Solomon Islanders in a signing ceremony last week.

YECSI Chairlady, Ms Millicent Barty extended her appreciation for the partnership after signing a grant funding agreement with the New Zealand High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Georgina Roberts in Honiara on Thursday 23 April.

This partnership will fundamentally support the development of YECSI as an organisation including staff capacity and YECSI membership services and programmes for the next three years towards progressing YECSI’s work in developing and supporting young people with their business pursuits.

“On behalf of the YECSI Board, Secretariat and our members I would like to sincerely thank the New Zealand Government, not only for their support towards YECSI but also to other partners and organisations that promote development in the Solomon Islands and facilitate an enabling environment for our young people,” Ms Barty said.

“This speaks volumes of the commitment the New Zealand Government has towards facilitating and promoting an enabling environment for our young people in Solomon Islands, not just for YECSI’s role in the economic empowerment space but also other youth development initiatives and organisations alike,” she added.

New Zealand High Commissioner, Ms Roberts recognized the important role YECSI plays in ensuring the voices of young Solomon Islanders are heard.

“We are always interested in understanding youth perspectives, to know what’s concerning for youth at the moment and to understand what opportunities young people in Solomon Islands see. YECSI is not only well placed, but critical to pushing forward the work in this area and also to help others understand some of particular areas of focus for youth entrepreneurs.

“We thank YECSI for accepting the challenge of working with a new partner such as the New Zealand High Commission and I commend YECSI for all the good work you have done so far, and also for all the good work that is yet to come,” the New Zealand High Commissioner said.

YECSI Chair, Ms Barty said youths are often forgotten in a lot of ways forward as key components for national development and stressed that the signing of this new partnership is the start of paving a great pathway to, “help youths contribute meaningfully to the economy and build their capacity as future leaders and business leaders for our country”.

“This partnership with New Zealand reinforces the importance of the work we do towards achieving an enabling environment for our young people in business, especially too, during this challenging time”, Ms Barty said.

Highlighting the significance of the event YECSI Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Pitakaka, attest the signing of the grant funding agreement as demonstrating true spirit of collaboration between our development partners and the private sector in Solomon Islands.

“We can achieve this much if we work in partnership and explore innovative ways in developing our country, especially for our young fast-growing population,” Mr Pitakaka said.

Launched in 2018, YECSI is a body that assists in the promotion, development and provision of dedicated support services to young entrepreneurs in Solomon Islands

YECSI is set up under the auspice of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI).

A huge part of YECSI’s mandate is to undertake advocacy on behalf of young entrepreneurs aimed at unlocking legislative, and policy constraints that are holding back opportunities for young Solomon Islanders.