![[STATEMENT] Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa Congratulates Solomon Islands on 47th Independence Day](https://forumsec.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Solomon%20Islands.jpg "[STATEMENT] Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa Congratulates Solomon Islands on 47th Independence Day")
7 July 2025
On behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum and the Blue Pacific family, I extend my warmest congratulations to the Government and people of Solomon Islands as you celebrate your 47th Independence Day.
This significant milestone is a time to reflect on the strength, resilience, and aspirations of Solomon Islanders, and to honour the nation’s unwavering commitment to peace, progress, and unity. Solomon Islands’ independence in 1978 also marks the year it joined the Pacific Islands Forum.
Solomon Islands has long played a vital role in shaping our collective regional vision, championing and advancing Pacific values on the global stage. Your leadership continues to enrich and strengthen the solidarity of our Forum family.
As you commemorate this day, I reaffirm the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s continued partnership and support to Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele, and to the Government and people of Solomon Islands.
In celebrating this momentous occasion, we also look forward to being in Honiara at this year’s 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting from 8–12 September in the Happy Isles.
Tagio tumas and Happy Independence Day!
[ENDS]
