Pacific Islands Forum

The President of Palau and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), His Excellency Surangel Whipps Jr., was received by the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on 5 November as part of the PIF Chair’s high-level mission to the UAE. The PIF Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa, and the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), Finau Soqo, accompanied President Whipps during the meeting. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation, advancing key Pacific regional priorities ahead of COP31, and opportunities to deepen collaboration on climate finance, including support for the PRF. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #COP31 #PRF Read more: forumsec.org/publications/re…

The Pacific Strengthening Correspondent Banking Relationships (CBR) Project convened its third Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting in a hybrid format on 5 November 2026, bringing together more than 35 participants, including senior finance officials from participating Pacific Island countries, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), and the World Bank Group. The PSC, comprising Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers of Ministries of Finance from the eight participating Pacific Island countries, provides strategic oversight and guidance to the Project. The meeting was chaired by Mrs Koin Uriam Kiritione, Secretary for Finance and Economic Development of Kiribati, who underscored the importance of correspondent banking as “fundamental to our economic security.” The Committee unanimously endorsed the Project's 2027 Annual Work Plan, Budget and Procurement Plan, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening regional financial resilience and advancing project implementation. ---------------------------------------------------------- About the CBR Project: The Pacific Strengthening Correspondent Banking Relationships Project is a World Bank-financed regional initiative implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat across eight participating Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The Project aims to safeguard access to correspondent banking services, strengthen the regulatory and institutional environment, and support sustainable solutions to ensure Pacific economies remain connected to the global financial system.

The President of Palau and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), His Excellency Surangel Whipps Jr., met with Her Excellency Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to explore opportunities to strengthen cooperation on climate resilience and sustainable development. Discussions highlighted the UAE’s investment capacity and expertise in renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure and water security as areas of strong potential for practical cooperation with the Pacific. Ahead of COP31, discussions also highlighted the Pacific’s priority to advance the capitalisation of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) the first Pacific-led and Pacific-owned regional financing facility dedicated to strengthening the resilience of Pacific communities. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #PacificResilienceFacility

Media Release: Pacific Islands Forum Chair Leads Mission To Strengthen Forum-UAE Cooperation. 5 November 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE: A high-level Pacific Islands Forum mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is taking place this week to advance cooperation on climate resilience, investment and sustainable development. His Excellency Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., President of Palau and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, accompanied by Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa, is leading the delegation. UAE Minister of State, H.E. Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, received His Excellency Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., on 4 November in Abu Dhabi, marking the start of the Mission. Read the full media release here: forumsec.org/publications/re… #OneBluePacific #Regionalism

The second online training session of the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons (YLF) Pacific Edition, Inspiring Voices from the Pacific: What Young People Can Do, was held on 29 October 2026, co-hosted by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD). Moderated by PIFS, the session focused on the voices, leadership and agency of young people in the Pacific, and how they are engaging with nuclear disarmament today. Participants discussed practical actions young people can take in their own communities. The YLF Pacific Edition is part of the activities commemorating the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the Rarotonga Treaty this year. #OneBluePacific #PIF #YLFPacific #NuclearFreePacific #RarotongaTreaty

WORK WITH US! The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) is seeking a qualified and experienced Project Country Coordinator – Samoa to support the implementation of the World Bank-funded Pacific Strengthening Correspondent Banking Relationships Project. The Coordinator will work closely with Samoa’s Ministry of Finance, the Project Management Unit in Suva, and key stakeholders to coordinate and deliver project activities in Samoa. 📌 Contract: Part-time consultancy, initially for two years, with potential extensions until 2030. 📍 Location: Samoa Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in Samoa. For more information: bit.ly/4ik4QXm

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) presented on the implementation of the Rarotonga Treaty at the Pacific Regional Dialogue on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), From Testing Grounds to Healing Grounds: Advancing an Ocean of Peace , held in Fiji from 28 to 30 October 2026. The dialogue was convened by the Fiji Nuclear Test Veterans and Families Association (FNVFA) with ICAN. The presentation covered regional mechanisms and the role of PIFS and the CROP Taskforce on Nuclear Legacy Issues in the Pacific. This year marks 40 years since the entry into force of the Rarotonga Treaty. The 2nd Meeting of States Parties and a commemoration of the anniversary will be held in December 2026. #OneBluePacific #PIF #NuclearLegacy #rarotongatreaty #TPNW #OceanOfPeace

🎉 Mālō e lelei 🎉 Happy Constitution Day to the people of the Kingdom of Tonga! Today, we celebrate the rich culture, enduring traditions and strong sense of community that define the Kingdom of Tonga. Guided by the four golden pillars 'Fa Kavei Koula': Faka'apa'apa (Respect), Lototo (Humility), Tauhi Va (Nurturing Relationships) and Mamahi'i Me'a (loyalty and commitment). Tonga reminds us that its greatest wealth lies in its people and the bonds that unite them.

Trade and Environment Officials from across the Pacific gathered in Suva from 29–30 October 2026 for a landmark workshop jointly organised by Pacific Islands Forum and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme - SPREP. The workshop marked an important step towards developing a shared Pacific agenda on sustainable trade, addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and emerging trade challenges. #OneBluePacific #Belau

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) participated in the 56th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA56) in Noumea from 27-28 October 2026, reinforcing the importance of regional cooperation in advancing implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The Pacific Community’s (SPC) annual governing meeting brought Members together to assess regional progress and guide future priorities, marking 79 years of scientific and technical service to the Pacific. The PIFS delegation was led by Deputy Secretary General Esala Nayasi, alongside the Director Governance and Engagement, Team Leader 2050, and 2050 Strategy Implementation Coordination Officer. Deputy Secretary General Nayasi co-presented with Pacific Community (SPC) Deputy Director General Andrew Jones on “Regional Cooperation and Update on the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.” The presentation highlighted the shift from establishing the 2050 Strategy’s implementation mechanisms, operationalising the Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), strengthening MEL to deliver measurable results, alongside the Regional Architecture Review (RRA) reforms aimed at strengthening regional alignment, One-CROP collaboration, decision-making and integrated delivery for Forum Members and Pacific peoples The two-day meeting provided a valuable opportunity to bring together Members and regional organisations, strengthening the spirit of our Pacific regional family and our shared commitment to working together to deliver for our people. #OneBluePacific #PIF #PacificCommunity #CRGA #OneCrop

Secretary-General Baron Divavesi Waqa warmly welcomed Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Hon. Robert Naguri, at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, on Tuesday 27th October 2026. This was Minister Naguri’s first visit to Fiji and to the Secretariat. They discussed matters of mutual interest, including the use of technology to benefit Pacific communities in areas such as disaster risk management, climate change, and emergency broadcasting. They also emphasised the importance of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) as the regional collective financing mechanism to ensure simplified access to climate finance reaches Pacific communities that need it the most. PNG was also acknowledged for laying the foundations of the current regional ICT architecture, beginning in 2023 when it convened the Pacific ICT officials’ meeting and established an interim regional secretariat. This led to the development of the Lagatoi Declaration and the Pacific ICT and Digital Transformation Action Plan 2024-2030. The Hon. Minister Naguri is the current Chair of the Forum ICT Ministers Meeting, which met for the first time under the Pacific Islands Forum umbrella in July 2026 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. #OneBluePacific #PIF #prf #lagatoideclaration #forumict

#PacificTrade The Pacific Regional Trade and Environment Workshop commenced on 29 October 2026 at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), bringing together Trade and Environment Officials from across the region for a two-day workshop jointly organised by PIFS and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). For the first time, trade and environment officials are coming together to consider a shared regional agenda that advances trade and environmental sustainability. The Workshop will consider the draft report of the Scoping Study which identifies key elements of a Pacific agenda that responds to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and to the growing number of trade-related climate measures affecting Pacific exports. The Scoping Study was mandated by Forum Trade Ministers in 2023 and the final report will be presented to the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting in 2027. In his opening remarks, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa highlighted the importance of collective Pacific leadership in shaping global trade rules and delivering environmental outcomes. “The Pacific has shown that it can help shape global rules. Our engagement on the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is a clear example of trade rules delivering environmental outcomes. We need to bring the same unity to wider trade and environment discussions at the WTO and in other international fora.” #OneBluePacific #Regionalism

#PacificTrade The Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Independent Advisory Board (IAB) held its 11th annual meeting at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) on 28 October 2026. The meeting was chaired by Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General and IAB Chair, Baron Divavesi Waqa. In his opening remarks, Secretary General Waqa highlighted the strategic importance of the outcomes of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau in guiding the Board’s deliberations. “The outcomes of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau provide an important strategic framing for our deliberations. Leaders’ priorities underscore the need to strengthen economic resilience, deepen regional cooperation, advance private-sector development, and accelerate the implementation of the 2050 Strategy,” he said. As the trade and investment promotion arm of PIFS, the PTI Network is mandated by Forum Leaders to facilitate trade, investment, and tourism opportunities between Pacific Island Countries and Territories and global markets. The PTI Network operates through offices in Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; Beijing, China; Tokyo, Japan; and Geneva, Switzerland. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism

#PacificTrade This week, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Geneva Office hosted a signing ceremony marking a new partnership between the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to support Pacific Island World Trade Organization - WTO Members in the ongoing WTO reform process. As WTO Members discuss reforms to fundamental aspects of the multilateral trading system, ensuring that the voices and interests of small island economies are heard is essential. Working in close collaboration with the PIF Geneva Office, which will facilitate coordination and engagement with Pacific WTO Members, IISD will provide targeted technical assistance, including monitoring negotiations, analysing proposals and preparing expert briefings to support informed and effective participation in WTO reform discussions. The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Pacific Ambassadors and experts based in Geneva. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #WTOReform #AidForTrade

#PacificTrade Investment Fiji in collaboration with World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) commenced a three-day investment promotion training programme in Suva this week. PTI Network General Manager Caleb Jarvis presented at the programme, which brings together regional experiences and practical approaches to strengthening investor services and attracting investment aligned with national development priorities. Sessions covered investment promotion strategies, identifying suitable investors and developing effective investment pitches, culminating in a practical pitch competition. As the trade and investment promotion arm of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat the PTI Network is mandated by Forum Leaders to facilitate trade, investment, and tourism opportunities between Pacific Island Countries and Territories and global markets. Read about PTI here: forumsec.org/pacific-trade-i… #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #PacificTrade

Regional commitments to building climate resilience are most meaningful when they translate into tangible benefits for our people. This was recently demonstrated in a coastal Fijian village, where the handing over of a boat highlighted how regional cooperation can deliver practical, community-driven solutions that strengthen livelihoods and resilience at the grassroots level. Tavuya village in the Rewa Delta in Fiji’s Central Division, an hour’s drive from Suva, was gifted a boat last week through a Japan-funded Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat project, Enhancing Resilience in Pacific Islands Communities: A Focus on Marine Environment Issues. The Tavuya community, the Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, H.E. Hiroshi Tajima, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Director of Operations, Mr Apaitia Veiogo, and senior officials from the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Fiji Government witnessed the occasion. In his remarks before the presentation, Mr Veiogo said it may seem like a small gesture, but the boat will have a positive long-term impact on the community. It means Tavuya children can have a safe means of getting to school, and women can conveniently access markets for their garden produce, helping enhance livelihoods. “At the Pacific Islands Forum, we often speak about our collective vision under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, a vision of a resilient, prosperous and secure Pacific,” he said. “But that vision must ultimately mean something to the people living in our villages and communities. Today is a good example of how we can translate those regional ambitions into something practical and meaningful at the local level.” Nestled on the banks of a mangrove estuary, Tavuya has a population of just over 200 people and is about 10 kilometres from Nausori town. Its residents mainly earn income from seafood and garden produce sold in the Nausori and Suva markets. #OneBluePacific #PIF #ClimateResilience #2050strategy

INVITATION TO TENDER! The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) invites suitably experienced and qualified individuals to apply for the following position under the Pacific Correspondent Banking Relationships Project: Payments System Advisor to the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF). For more information: projects.worldbank.org/en/pr…

35 Days to Go | Pacific E-commerce Symposium 2026 The Pacific E- commerce Symposium will be held from 30 November - 4 December and will feature several key committee meetings, including the Private Sector Sub-committee, Development Partners Sub-committee, and Pacific E-commerce Committee meetings. The three committees serve as the governance, partnership, and private sector engagement mechanisms that support the implementation of Pacific e-commerce priorities under the Resources and Economic Development agenda of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. #OneBluePacific #Regionalism #PacificTrade

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa, in his address at the inaugural U.S. Government-hosted Pacific Islands Conference of Police Ministers in Los Angeles, California, U.S., last Thursday (Friday 23 October 2026 FJT), said cybercrime, online scam operations, and the illicit use of digital infrastructure are no longer emerging challenges but established regional security threats. These threats are compounded by the Pacific’s geographical challenges, including its vast ocean, dispersed populations, resource constraints, and increasing digital connectivity. Forum Members continue to strengthen collective responses, according to the Secretary General. These include developing the Waqa Moana Concept, which aims to strengthen coordination among relevant law enforcement bodies. Mr Waqa said U.S. Government initiatives, such as the inaugural conference, are particularly valuable because they unite policymakers, operational leaders and regional institutions to strengthen cooperation on shared challenges and deepen collaboration on cyber resilience, electronic evidence, financial investigations, intelligence sharing and the disruption of criminal networks across borders and jurisdictions.

The 7th Meeting of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) Taskforce on Nuclear Legacy Issues in the Pacific convened today at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva. Chaired by H.E. Junior Aini, Ambassador of the Marshall Islands to Fiji and the Pacific Islands, Members discussed nuclear developments and preparations for the 2nd Meeting of States Parties to the Rarotonga Treaty and commemoration of the 40th anniversary of its entry into force in December 2026. They also considered the Final Report of the Preliminary Independent Review on Nuclear Contamination in the Pacific and next steps. Updates included the Marshall Islands' Treaty signing through Foreign Minister Hon. Kalani R. Kaneko in the margins of the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in August 2026, and the commencement of the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons (YLF) Pacific Edition. #OneBluePacific #PIF #NuclearLegacy