Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga has joined other Pacific Islands’ leaders and heads of states to the opening of the Pacific ACP Leader’s Meeting in Ponphei, Federated States of Micronesia on Thursday, as the 47th Pacific Islands Forum Meetings gets underway.
Pacific Leaders of the African Caribbean Pacific (PACP) grouping yesterday also met to discuss future perspectives of the ACP group and post-Cotonou arrangements, current programming of the Pacific Regional Indicative Program under the 11th European Development Fund and other trade and PACP related matters.
While presenting his remarks at the occasion, Mr Maelanga said that Post Cotonou brings with it a set of issues to be discussed at the Meeting as he commended a report presented by the ACP Eminent Person’s Group, highlighting many potential way forward for the future of the ACP Group in relation to relevant global and regional development priorities and commitments.
Mr Maelanga aid there is the need to streamline areas of focus with emphasis in areas of trade, cooperation and dialogue as the possible way forward.
He said any new agreement replace the Cotonou Agreement that will expire in 2020 will need to encourage Intra ACP Cooperation, triangular cooperation and public-private partnership cooperation.
Additionally, increasing the economic returns of regional fisheries, and responding to the effects of climate change and disaster risk management are also two priority issues that have discussed today.
Other key issues identified for Leaders considered under the Framework for Pacific Regionalism include implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, upholding human rights in West Papua, reducing the burden of cervical cancer, coordinating regional information and communications technology, trade integration, and a framework to support the rights of persons with disabilities.
Leaders from the Smaller Island States (SIS) of the Forum first met yesterday, Wednesday 7th September, focusing on an implementation plan for the recently endorsed SIS Strategy.
The Strategy highlights 5 key areas – climate change finance, air and sea transport, marine, mobility, and health – that, due to the unique circumstances and vulnerabilities of the SIS, require specific attention.
The official opening of the 47th Pacific Islands Forum Meeting took place yesterday evening in Kolonia, Pohnpei.
It is followed by the full Leaders Plenary Session with Associate Members and Observers today and a dialogue with private sector representatives. The Leaders Retreat will be held tomorrow.
On Sunday the 11th, the Forum’s dialogue partners will meet with Leaders for the Post Forum Dialogue which provides an opportunity to align development support behind the Forum’s policy priorities.
– PM Press Secretariat
