SOLOMON Islands will be hosting the Special Summit on SDGs 14.4 in Honiara in February next year.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele revealed this to the local media at a press conference upon his return from the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) in Tonga on Sunday, 1st September.
This was following an acknowledgement of next year (2025) being a big year for Oceanic priority with the 3rd United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC3) scheduled to take place in Paris, France in June of 2025.
PM Manele said Solomon Islands will be hosting the Special Summit on SDGs 14.4 here in Honiara early next year.
He said he invited all leaders to participate in the summit, which will be co-hosted by the National Government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) and Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Special Oceans Envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General.
In addition to the discussion of the special summit at the PIFLM in Tonga, PIF leaders discussed the ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
All PIF member states and partners were urged to ratify the BBNJ agreement and PM Manele said he is looking forward to be working with all Solomon Islands stakeholders to advance common priorities at the UNOC3.
During their talks on Ocean and Fisheries, leaders also acknowledged and endorsed the ‘East New Britain Initiative’ as a ‘key economic and resource development priority’ for the region and they called on all partners to work with the region and support the initiative and to build upon it.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
