Nauru and Australia have taken another major step in their long-standing cooperation with the signing of a $388 million(US$250 million) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the third-country resettlement of selected persons — described as a “special cohort” — through long-term stay visas in Nauru.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday, establishes the Nauru Trust Fund 2, a capital investment dedicated to supporting the 30-year resettlement arrangement.
The fund is separate from a one-off $20 million(US$12.98 million) establishment fee and additional annual payments for operational costs.
Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs Tawaki Kam, who signed on behalf of the Nauru Government, said the arrangement reflects the deep and ongoing partnership between Nauru and Australia.
“The arrangement reaffirms Nauru and Australia’s shared commitment to humane, lawful, and mutually respectful management of migration and settlement, and the establishment of a second Trust Fund embodies the government’s pursuit for economic resilience,” he said in a statement.
Kam said the agreement ensures that those resettled in Nauru will be treated fairly and with dignity.
“These settled persons will enjoy freedom of movement, equal treatment, and access to essential services in accordance with Nauru’s international obligations and human rights commitments,” he said.
He added that the initiative aligns with Nauru’s broader goal of securing long-term stability and opportunities for future generations.
“Under this arrangement, Nauru, yet again, expands its options towards safeguarding the well-being of its children as well as strengthening the nation’s sustainable future.”
The new MOU underscores Nauru’s continuing role as a key regional partner for Australia in migration management while bolstering its own economic resilience through strategic funding and investment.
