A new Pacific forum is born.
Our News Director Vijay Narayan has more from the inaugural Pacific Islands Development Forum at Sheraton Fiji Resort.
History has been created with the new Pacific Islands Development Forum secretariat to be set up in Fiji.
This has been announced after discussions with various Pacific leaders at the first ever forum in Nadi.
Fijian Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said Fiji is ready to host the secretariat at the former Film and TV Unit building located in Domain Road in Suva.
Following a standing ovation from the audience which included Pacific island leaders, ministers, civil society and business representatives, Commodore Bainimarama also stressed that the new forum will be totally different as for the first time leaders will come to the table together with the business and civil society representatives to ensure that issues in relation to climate change and sustainable development are always discussed with appropriate actions taken.
He also highlighted that the forum will live within its means and focus on results.
Commodore Bainimarama said it will not be an expensive facility with many overpaid people.
It has also been announced that many countries from outside the region have already offered a significant amount of funding for the setting of the forum and the new secretariat.
Nauru, Kiribati and Solomon Islands commended the move.
Fiji Employers Federation’s Nesbitt Hazelman also welcomed the setting up of the Pacific Islands Development Forum on behalf of the members of the Employer's Federation.
It has also been confirmed that the new forum is already invited to a side event on the margins of the next UN General Assembly in New York next month.
Story by: Vijay Narayan in Denarau
