Solomon Islands has opened its London mission amid concerns at home that the country cannot afford it.
Chris Laore Photo: Koroi Hawkins RNZI
The new Solomon High Commission in London opened its doors for diplomatic and consular services on Monday.
It is the third Solomon Islands diplomatic mission in Europe which includes Brussels in Belgium and Geneva in Switzerland.
Last week in the Solomon Islands parliament independent MPs called on government to justify the establishment of the London mission.
In response the supervising minister of foreign affairs Chris Laore said the establishment and operation of any diplomatic mission was an expensive exercise for Solomon Islands.
But he said the gains of having a mission in London far outweighed the costs.
The government believed the mission would increase Solomon Islands ability to explore opportunities for economic development in the United Kingdom and across Europe.
Solomon Islands ambassador in Brussels Moses Kouni Mose is the acting high commissioner to London until an official appointment is made.
