Australia has thrown its support behind LF & Sons Enterprises, a local business owned by former North Malaita MP Levi Filualea, with the launch of a new Rural Trade Storage facility in Gwanasu’u Village, Malaita on 30 September — a major boost for the province’s growing cocoa sector.
Filualea, who served as the Member of Parliament for North Malaita in the 11th Parliament, was a businessman long before entering politics. Following his term in office, he has returned full-time to managing LF & Sons, focusing on strengthening rural trade and creating income opportunities for local cocoa farmers.
Established in 1997, LF & Sons is Malaita’s largest cocoa buyer, sourcing beans from a broad network of local farmers across the province. The company provides essential market access for rural producers, many of whom face high transport and logistics costs that limit their ability to sell their crops.
With Australian Government support, the new storage facility will expand LF & Sons’ capacity and improve supply chain efficiency, particularly for farmers in Northeast and Fouia. The upgraded facility will also enable the company to increase the frequency of cocoa collection from once a week to three times a week, helping stabilise prices and encourage greater production.
Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, congratulated LF & Sons on the achievement and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting local business growth.
“The new facility will mean more remote communities and cocoa farmers can sell their cocoa beans,” High Commissioner Hilton said. “This partnership will increase household incomes for cocoa farmers, create local jobs, and increase the country’s cocoa exports.”
Managing Director Levi Filualea described the launch as a milestone for both his company and Malaita’s cocoa industry.
“This facility will enable us to bring more remote communities into our network, provide consistent market access, and support farmers with better storage and handling of their cocoa,” he said.
“It’s an important step toward building a sustainable and thriving cocoa sector in Malaita.”
The initiative also includes technical support and farmer training on sustainable farming and management practices — aimed at boosting productivity, improving bean quality, and giving farmers the confidence to invest further in cocoa.
The event was attended by representatives from the Malaita Provincial Government, the Australian High Commission, Strongim Bisnis, and members of the local community, marking another example of Australia’s long-term support for Solomon Islands’ agriculture and rural livelihoods.
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