HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Senior officials from across
the Pacific will gather in Honiara next week for the eighth
meeting of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic
Relations (PACER) Plus Joint Committee, set to take place on
5-6 May 2025. The meeting will be chaired by Mr. Collin
Beck, Permanent Secretary of the Solomon Islands Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and will bring together
representatives from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New
Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and
Vanuatu.
The two-day meeting will focus on reviewing
progress under the PACER Plus agreement, including updates
on the implementation of the 2024-2025 annual work plan. The
Samoa-based PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), led by
Mr. Roy Lagolago, will provide a detailed report on ongoing
activities supporting the treaty’s objectives,
particularly under the Development and Economic Cooperation
(DEC) Work Programme and the Arrangement on Labour
Mobility.
Australia and New Zealand have
been key partners in supporting PACER Plus, jointly
committing AU$25 million in October 2021 to fund the DEC
Work Programme, which is managed by the PPIU. This funding,
set to conclude in December 2025, has been instrumental in
strengthening regional trade integration and addressing the
unique development challenges faced by Pacific Island
nations. Discussions at the meeting will include the
potential extension of the DEC Work Programme to ensure
continued progress.
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“PACER Plus is more
than a trade agreement – it’s a commitment to
sustainable development and shared prosperity across the
Pacific,” said Mr. Lagolago, Head of the PPIU. “This
meeting is an opportunity to assess our achievements,
address challenges, and plan for the future, ensuring that
the benefits of regional economic integration reach all our
communities.”
PACER Plus was designed with a strong
emphasis on supporting the Pacific Parties’ participation
in international trade while addressing their distinct
vulnerabilities and capacity constraints. The agreement
recognises the critical role of regional cooperation in
fostering long-term socio-economic development.
The
outcomes of the Joint Committee meeting will help shape the
next phase of PACER Plus implementation, reinforcing its
role as a cornerstone of Pacific economic resilience and
integration.
