SOE Financial Snapshot 2020
| State-Owned Enterprise | Ownership (%) |
Total Assets (SBD ‘000) |
Total Revenue (SBD ‘000) |
Total Liabilities (SBD ‘000) |
Net Profit / (Loss) (SBD ‘000) |
|
| SAL | Solomon Airlines Limited | 100 | 203,352 | 195,444 | 250,811 | (30,855) |
| SIBC | Solomon Islands Broadcasting Authority | 100 | 31,177 | 10,510 | 730 | 856 |
| SIEA | Solomon Islands Electricity Authority | 100 | 1,514,116.1 | 452,552 | 223,098 | 75,164 |
| SIPA | Solomon Islands Port Authority | 100 | 962,471 | 240,584 | 192,431 | 72,573 |
| SIWA | Solomon Islands Water Authority | 100 | 379,542 | 132,418 | 153,287 | 17,100 |
| Portfolio (excluding ICSI, SIPC & CEMA) | 3,090,658 | 1,031,508 | 820, 357 | 134,838 | ||
Performance Highlights
The SOE portfolio has undergone a dramatic turnaround since 2009. Average portfolios return on equity (ROE) declined from 16% in 2010-2016 to 9% in 2017-2020[1]. The average return on Assets (ROA) also followed a similar trend. The main factors contributing to this turnaround are (i) financial restructuring of three of the largest SOEs, (ii) tariff increases at SIWA [2] and SIPA, (iii) improved collections for SIEA [3] and SIWA, (iv) privatization and liquidation of non-strategic SOEs and (v) improved implementation of the SOE Act, in particular the community service obligation (CSO) regulations. However, after period 2010-2016 period the average ROE and ROA began to fall significantly due to impact from (i) COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) rise in cost of fuel and (v) high operating expenses. In 2017 a SOE Ownership Policy was developed with the support of the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), the policy outlines the rationale for SOE ownership, performance expectations, privatization principles, and dividend requirements. Aligned with the Solomon Islands SOE Act and Solomon Islands’ National Development Strategy 2011-2020 that guides government investment, oversight, and divestment of SOEs. In 2016, the Solomon Islands government established a new SOE, Solomon Airlines Airport Corporation Ltd (SIACL), which commenced operations in 2017. In 2019 and 2020 ROE and ROA highlight the lowest record as it is the peak period of COVID-19 which significantly impact all the SOEs operations.
More detailed analysis on the Solomon Islands SOE portfolio can be found in:
- Finding Balance 2016: Benchmarking the Performance of State-Owned Enterprises in Island Countries
- Finding-balance-2019: Benchmarking the Performance of State-Owned Enterprises in Island Countries
- Finding-balance-2023: Benchmarking the Performance of State-Owned Enterprises in Island Countries
Government’s Management of SOEs
Government exercises SOE ownership oversight through the application of the State-owned Enterprises Act 2007and State-owned Enterprises Regulations 2010. The Act and Regulations cover such matters as the duties and responsibilities of the Accountable Ministers, the principal objective of every SOE to operate profitably; how CSOs are identified, costed and approved; directors’ duties; director selection, appointment and removal; and preparation of the Statement of Corporate Objectives and Annual Reports. For SAL, the only SOE that is a registered company, the Companies Act also applies. Some SOEs are established through their own legislation.
The Accountable Ministers are the Responsible Minister and the Minister of Finance. They are jointly responsible to Parliament for the performance of the SOEs. They must ensure that the provisions of the SOE Act 2007 and Regulations 2010 are implemented. In most cases decisions must be made jointly.
SOEs are monitored by the Economic Reform Unit (ERU) within the Ministry of Finance. They provide reports and briefings to the Accountable Ministers on SOEs performance, operations and other policy issues related to SOEs.
Periodically the Government approves policies to provide guidance to the SOEs and assist the Government effectively manage its ownership interest. The following are key policies adopted by Government relevant to SOEs.
- Borrowing Policy for State Owned Enterprises in the Solomon Islands
- Solomon Island SOE Ownership Policy
[1] These figures only include the commercial trading SOEs. They do not include CEMA, ICSI and SIPC. CEMA has regulatory functions, while ICSI is a holding company for the Government’s minority shareholding in a number of companies and other investments. ICSI has not prepared annual accounts for 2015, 2016 or 2017 while, CEMA has not prepared their annual accounts for 2020.
[2] Now trading as Solomon Water
[3] Now trading as Solomon Power