North Malaitan attends Small and Medium Enterprises conference in Israel under MASHAV sponsorship

A prominent North Malaita leader and a founder of the Small and Medium Enterprises Council (SMEC) in Solomon Islands, Mr Leliana Daowana Firisua (pictured) is currently in Israel attending a four weeks conference for small and medium enterprises (SME's).

According to information that reached TARD from Israel, Mr Firisua had left Honiara on Sunday 27th May, via Brisbane, Bangkok and then arriving in Israel yesterday morning (Tuesday 29th May).

Mr Firisua was met at the Ben Gurion International Airport yesterday morning by the Israeli Ambassador to the Pacific Region, His Exellency Dr. Michael Ronen. He was later driven to Beer Sheva (the Golden Tullip Hotel) where he will attend the four weeks conference on "Comprehensive and Integrative Public support Systems for SME's -A central Factor of Development Policy", the Israeli way. This training will be provided by the Negev Institute Strategies of peace and Development (R.A).

"The protocol offered by the Israel Government at the Ben Gurion International Airport yesterday morning is truly a wonderful reflection of this long journey of relationship that I have developed with the Government and the people of Israel in the last five years", adds Mr Firisua.

It is understood that Firisua will be having an audience with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards the end of this week looking at how MASHAV (International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) can have a strong relationship or have a stronger presence in Solomon Islands. Mr Firisua will also visit the Israel Small & Medium Enterprises Authority (ISMEA) to assess how this body can work closely with the Small & Medium Enterprises Council (SMEC) in Solomon Islands.

Firisua says that his current training in Israel may pave the way for future trainings for Solomon Islanders as it is fully financed by MASHAV (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel).