Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa has warned that regional economies face mounting global pressures and urged Forum Economic Ministers to double down on cooperation to safeguard the Pacific’s future.
“This has been an unusual but nevertheless very important year for the FEMM,” Waqa said in his welcome remarks at the second Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) Tuesday.
“As Ministers will recall, there was a Special FEMM held in March this year specifically to endorse the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) Treaty and to approve the Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development (PRED).”
Waqa confirmed that the PRED is now officially being implemented and will be formally launched during the meeting.
“PRED is the first of the seven Thematic Areas of the 2050 Strategy to have a detailed implementation plan for the achievement of the Leaders’ Vision, which reflects the aspirations of our Forum Members for the Forum Secretariat to prioritise trade and economic development issues,” he said.
He added that PRED could become a model for implementation plans across the remaining thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy.
“Without such comprehensive plans we shall be unable to satisfactorily report to Forum Leaders on the progress towards the achievement of the 2050 Strategy,” Waqa stated.
On the global front, Waqa said Pacific nations must not be complacent.
“With the fading of the impacts of COVID-19 we are now faced with a new set of challenges that threaten our ability to realise our Forum Leaders vision.”
He cited continuing global disruptions, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
“In these unsettling times we are like fish being circled by sharks, we are therefore better working together to survive the impending threats.”
Waqa warned that despite inflows of development assistance and remittances, economic growth across the region remains relatively low.
“Although as a region we are in receipt of substantial official development assistance, as well as remittances from both workers on labour mobility schemes, as well as from permanent migrants, our national growth rates in terms of GDP are relatively low.”
He said the Secretariat has provided policy options and measures in the Economic Update and Outlook that could help governments respond to fiscal shocks.
“The Pacific Islands Forum, supported by its Secretariat and sister CROP agencies, has always promoted a strong commitment to regional cooperation and integration,” he said.
“Our economies, though diverse, share common challenges and aspirations. We have shown that working together can lead to positive results not only for the region but for our individual nations.”
Waqa also praised recent action by Forum Trade Ministers.
“They have made bold pronouncements that we must enhance our regional trade and cross border investment frameworks,” he said. “By strengthening our intra-regional trade, we can create more opportunities for our businesses and improve the livelihoods of our people.”
He also called for freer movement of people across Forum Member states, saying it would drive “greater regional economic cooperation and integration.”
Waqa acknowledged that FEMM has a track record of collaboration across key areas such as aviation safety, governance, security, and trade—but said the region needs to go further.
“We need to go further if we are to deliver on our Leaders’ vision as set out in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent,” he said, quoting: “As Pacific Leaders, our vision is for a resilient Pacific Region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, that ensures all Pacific Peoples can lead free, healthy and productive lives.”
Waqa ended by calling for strong partnerships.
“With the global uncertainties it is, as always, important that we maintain and deepen our relationships with our development partners to drive and implement the priorities of the PRED and the 2050 Strategy.”
“I am confident that the expertise and dedication of the Ministers present here today will lead to fruitful discussions and meaningful outcomes,” he said.
