𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞
𝟑𝟏 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
The Solomon Islands National University (SINU), the Young Entrepreneurs Council Solomon Islands (YECSI) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) on Friday 29 August signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at SINU’s Kukum Campus.
This MOU builds on the earlier agreement signed on 21 November 2021 and is established to implement and advance Article 2, subsection 1.1.2 of that agreement.
The overall objective is to strengthen collaboration between MCT, YECSI and SINU to:
- Promote youth employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the tourism sector through a dedicated grant scheme.
- Foster innovation, sustainable practices, and inclusive growth within the tourism industry.
- Provide capacity-building, mentorship and technical assistance to grant recipients.
- Collaborate with SINU’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) in support of passionate young entrepreneurs.
- Establish a grant fund to support young tourism entrepreneurs in Solomon Islands.
Under the signed MOU, the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are as follows:
- Provide financial resources for the grants.
- Ensure the program aligns with national tourism policies and development goals.
- Work with YECSI and SINU to develop criteria for selecting grant recipients.
- Share relevant research, technical information and documents to support the program.
The roles and responsibilities of Young Entrepreneur Council Solomon Islands (YECSI) are as follows:
- Support MCT and SINU in identifying and recommending potential beneficiaries.
- Facilitate capacity-building programs for young entrepreneurs.
- Monitor and report to MCT on the progress of grant recipients.
The roles and responsibilities of Solomon Islands National University are as follows:
- Provide academic and technical support through training, workshops and research-based initiatives.
- Conduct research on tourism-related innovations and sustainable practices.
- Offer practical internship opportunities for students in collaboration with grant-supported businesses.
- Assist in developing curriculum for capacity-building and mentorship programs.
SINU’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Associate Professor Dr. Eric Katovai, signed on behalf of the University. In his remarks, Dr. Katovai thanked YECSI and MCT for the initiative and said the MOU reflects trust between the parties, adding that SINU looks forward to its successful implementation.
YECSI Council Chairman, Mr. Limahl Totogi, signed on behalf of YECSI. He noted that the agreement marks another milestone for YECSI since its establishment in 2018, and is a step in the right direction for empowering young entrepreneurs in the Solomon Islands.
Permanent Secretary of MCT, Mr. Bunyan Sivoro, signed on behalf of the Ministry. He highlighted the importance of the MOU in supporting youth entrepreneurship and job creation, and reaffirmed MCT’s commitment to working with SINU and YECSI as key partners.
The MOU is effective immediately and will remain in force for the next five years.
ENDS//