pacbiz.JPG (8193 bytes)

PACIFIC ISLANDS BUSINESS INDICATORS

Solomon Islands
Exchange Rate: 1 $ Local currency = x $US
Currency

SI$

Calendar Year 1996

0.27

Calendar Year 1997 (used in tables)

0.27

Q1 1998

0.23

% Change 1996 - Q1 1998

-15%

GENERAL

Land Area

28,330 km2

EEZ

1,340,000 km2

GDP

US$363 million (1996)

GNP per Capita

US$900 (1996)

Human Development Index

0.563 (1993)

INDICATOR LEVELS (US $ million)

GDP (at current prices)

362.6 (1996)

Govt. Revenues

148.6 (1996)

Govt. Expenditures

168.4 (1996)

Govt. Budget Deficit (-)

-19.8 (1996)

Exports (fob)

162.4 (1996)

Imports (fob)

151.5 (1996)

Current Account Balance (after grants)

4.9 (1996)

Gross Reserves

32 (1996)

LABOUR FORCE CONTEXT
Population (1,000s latest census) 1

380

Potential Labour Force, age 15-59

182

Unpaid/underemployed labour force (%) 2
male

63

female

86

Quality of Local Labour Force3
Adult literacy rate (%)

23

Enrolment rate secondary schools (%)

14

LABOUR FORCE CONDITIONS
Legislated minimum wage

-

Average Wage Rates ($per hour) 4
Managerial
Supervisory
Skilled
Semi Skilled
Unskilled
Normal number of hours work per week
No. paid holidays per year
Employer Contributions (% wage bill)
Workers Superannuation Fund
compulsory?
rate (%)
Western Compensation Fund
compulsory?
rate (%)5
Electricity
connection fee
tariff per kilowat hour
Water & Sewage
water connection fee ($)
sewage connection fee

-

sewage rate

-

Telephone
installation fee ($)
line/equipment rental rate ($) per year
rate per local call ($)
long distance rates ($) per minute
Japan (Tokyo)
USA (Los Angeles)
United Kingdom (London)
Australia (Sydney)
New Zealand (Auckland)
Singapore
Neighbouring Forum Island countries
Tonga
Samoa
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Vanuatu
Marshall Islands
Tuvalu
Kiribati
Federated States of Micronesia
Solomon Islands
Cook Islands
Nauru
Palau
Total Cost 1 year of service 1
Internet/E-mail
connection fee
rental rate per year
no. free hours per month included in rental
rate per additional hour use
Total cost 1 year of service2
Sea Freight (cif) per cubic metre 1
Japan (Tokyo)
USA (Los Angeles)
United Kingdom (London)
Australia (Sydney)
New Zealand (Auckland)
Singapore
Neighbouring Forum Island Countries
Tonga
Samoa
Fiji
Marshall Islands
Papua New Guinea
Cook Islands
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Palau
Kiribati
Federated States of Micronesia
Air Freight (cif) per kilogram
Japan (Tokyo)
USA (Los Angeles)
United Kingdom (London)
Australia (Sydney)
New Zealand (Auckland)
Singapore
Neighbouring Forum Island Countries
Tonga
Samoa
Fiji
Marshall Islands
Kiribati
Federated States of Micronesia
Papua New Guinea
Cook Islands
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Palau
Land
total area (sq kilometers

29,758

Customary land
Proportion customarily owned (%)
Max period for commercial lease (yrs)
Average lease rate per acre per annum
agricultural land ($)
commercial land ($)
Free hold land
average purchase price per acre
Factory Space
average annual rental price per sq ft
Commercial Banking
Commercial Banks, excl Dev Banks (No)
Lending rate range (% per annum)
Average lending rate (% per annum)
Personal Tax Rates (Brackets)
No tax
rate of 5%
rate of 6%
rate of 8%
rate of 10%
rate of 12%
rate of 15%
rate of 20%
rate of 25%
rate of 30%
rate of 35%
rate of 37%
rate of 40%
Company Tax Rate (%)
Resident Company
General
Mining
Petroleum
Non-Resident Company
General
Mining
Petroleum
Other Taxes & Fees
Business Gross Receipt tax (%)
GST/Value added tax (%)
Sales tax (%)
Annual business licence fees ($)
Import Duty Rates (% range)
manufacturing inputs
general (excluding cigarettes, liquor et)