HONIARA, Solomon Islands – U.S. Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock met Solomon Islands government officials and the American community, and visited several sites in Guadalcanal Province from June 23 to 26, 2025.
In meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Frederick Kologeto, Speaker of the Parliament Patteson Oti, Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Shanel Agovaka, Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination Hon. Rexson Ramofafia, Central Bank Governor Dr. Luke Forau, and Chief Justice Albert “Rocky” Palmer, Ambassador Yastishock discussed the many ways the United States partners with Solomon Islands to maintain a free and open Pacific that makes the people of the United States and Solomon Islands safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
Alumnae of the U.S. project Academy for Women Entrepreneurs shared with the Ambassador their experiences starting and running businesses in Solomon Islands and described the ways the things they learned from the Academy benefited their businesses. Academy for Women Entrepreneurs provides professional skills through online classes and professional networks to launch or scale up successful small businesses. With partner institutions Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management (ASU) and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, Solomon Islander women have access to DreamBuilder, a no-cost online learning platform that teaches business fundamentals that have helped U.S. companies become global leaders. AWE alumnae described for the Ambassador how practical tools the training provided them, such as business plan and accounting templates, helped them bring their companies to the next level. By equipping women with American business skills, the U.S. Embassy is advancing economic prosperity in Solomon Islands communities.
Ambassador Yastishock presented a U.S. flag to the Vilu Military Museum that will fly at the museum’s entrance, alongside the Solomon Islands flag. Acknowledging the first time that a U.S. Ambassador visited the open-air museum, Casper Diau said, “I want to thank the Embassy and the people of America. This flag reminds me of the heart of the people of America, for the historical events that happened in the 1940s. History will never be forgotten. We are so thankful indeed.”
Sister Maria Fe of San Isidro Care Centre of the Deaf in Aruligo and Sister Daniella and Sister Anna of Our Lady of the Visitation Rural Training Center in Visale welcomed Ambassador Yastishock, who appreciated the tours of the facilities and applauded the achievements of these institutions to support populations in rural Guadalcanal.
In addition, Ambassador Yastishock held a town hall meeting with the U.S. community in Honiara, acknowledging the contributions private citizens make to expanding people-to-people ties between the United States and Solomon Islands.
During her visit, Ambassador Yastishock and the U.S. Embassy team continued working on plans to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the Guadalcanal Campaign, as well as prepare for U.S. participation in the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in September.
