PICTA Services
In addition to the existing agreement on trade in goods, FICs are currently negotiating agreements on trade in services and the temporary movement of natural persons (ie labour mobility). Negotiations began in February 2008 and are scheduled to complete in the middle of 2009.
Services
A guide to services liberalisation in Solomon Islands has been prepared for stakeholders. The guide is aimed at officials in ministries which cover sectors that may be liberalised under PICTA, as well as private sector firms in those sectors. The guide is available:
The sectors which may be included in PICTA services liberalisation are listed in the guide.
Solomon Islands has already partially liberalised business services, construction and related engineering services, financial services and tourism and travel-related services multilaterally when it signed the GATS in 1996. These sectors are likely to be included in Solomon Islands' schedule of commitments. Current SIG policy also favours rapid liberalisation of the telecommunications and aviation sectors, so these are also under active consideration for inclusion.
Labour Mobility
The PICTA Services agreement will contain a greater emphasis on the temporary movement of workers than is typical in GATS (WTO) practice. The way in which labour mobility commitments will be scheduled is still under discussion. Countries are currently discussing the possibility of a two-tier system in which recognised professionals would be free to work in any Forum island country, and each FIC would have a quota to allow incoming semi-skilled labour.
Ongoing Consultations
DET is continuing to consult with relevant ministries and private-sector stakeholders during the drafting and editing of Solomon Islands' schedule of commitments. If you would like to be included in this consultative process, please contact Jenny Barile or George Tuti.
